Agenda item

Consider report by Corporate Transformation and Services Director on progress in developing and delivering the Council’s Corporate Transformation Programme.  (Copy attached.)

With reference to paragraph 2 of the Minute of 9 June 2015, there had been circulated copies of a report by the Corporate Transformation and Services Director presenting an update on progress in developing and delivering the Council’s Corporate Transformation Programme since the last update report on 9 June 2015 and setting out planned activity in the reporting period to the end of October 2015.   The main areas of progress since June included the Railway Programme; Culture Trust; Alternative Service Delivery Models; ICT Programme; Property and Assets; Energy Efficiency; and Scoping of Briefs.  The Corporate Transformation and Services Director referred specifically to the work on the Culture Trust, and the ICT Programme, advising that the implementation plan and the business plan for ICT required more time to complete, therefore it was proposed that the report on the way forward would be brought to Council on 17 December 2015 and not 8 October as originally planned.  In response to a question the Programme Manager, Borders Railway Blueprint advised that good progress had been made and there was optimism about the ripple effect the Borders Railway would have for Hawick.  She explained that discussions were ongoing regarding cashmere tours and tourism trails etc. and it was noted that a paper would be considered by the Executive Committee on 1 September 2015 demonstrating the inward investments of the railway being reinstated in the Scottish Borders.  The impact should not be limited to the railway corridor and the return of the railway was changing the perception that the Scottish Borders was on the periphery of Scotland.  The Blueprint highlighted over 100 development sites for housing, industry, etc. within the Borders.  In response to a question, the Programme Manager advised she would check on whether a local company had received funding to move from Selkirk to larger premises in Edinburgh.  The cultural aspects of the Borders were already part of Visit Scotland’s programme, and it was noted that Abellio had already participated in two events and so they were being supportive.  There had been quite a bit of interest from Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and Transport Scotland in the working of the Blueprint and a review was planned over the next 6 – 9 months to analysis its success.  With regard to the Property & Assets programme, details of the financial benefits should be reported to the Executive Committee in October.  The ‘hop on, hop off’ bus service was based on the Eildon Explorer and had been expanded, connecting Galashiels, Tweedbank, Abbotsford, Melrose and Scotts View.  Other increases in bus services would come on stream from 7 September 2015.  It was noted that unfortunately Appendix 2c to the report had been omitted from publication and this would be emailed directly to Members.

DECISION

NOTED:

(a)        the progress made in developing and delivering the Corporate Transformations Programme;

(b)       that the full proposal for ICT would be presented to Council on 17 December 2015 rather than to Council on 8 October 2015 as originally planned.

MEMBER

Councillor Aitchison joined the meeting during discussion of the following item.