Agenda item

Verbal update from Estates Surveyor

The Estates Surveyor, Tricia Hill, was joined at the meeting by Frank Scott who had taken over from Tom Holmes as Property Officer for Selkirk Common Good.  With reference to paragraph 7.3 and 7.8 of the Minute of 19 February 2020, Mr Scott gave the following update:

4.1       Green Shed

A quote of £3,500 had been received to carry out the required work on the roof and gutters of the Green Shed, which was well within the maximum £6,000 approved by Councillors at the last meeting. The implementation of this work had therefore been instructed.  Mr Scott had also been in touch with a locksmith and the locks on both doors would be changed within the next week.  It was noted that Mr Combe would need a set of keys for access by Scott’s Selkirk but the others should be held by the Council and a record kept of any that are handed out.

DECISION

NOTED

4.2       Victoria Hall

Mr Scott explained that he and the previous Property Officer had met with a builder to discuss carrying out an assessment of the external condition of the Victoria Hall.  Mr Scott recommended that a cherry picker be hired for a week to enable a full assessment to be made.  This was likely to cost between £2-3k.  The Estates Surveyor confirmed that a sum of £12k had been included in the 2020/21 budget for inspection and remedial works relating to the hall.

DECISION

AGREED to allocate a cost of up to £3k for an assessment of the external condition of the Victoria Hall.

4.3       Smedheugh Farm

            Mr Scott advised that he and Ms Hill had visited Smedheugh Farm and had been concerned at the extent of building repairs which were required.   In particular Mr Scott showed a photograph of a lintel within a traditional building which was rotten and in need of urgent repair. Members were shocked to see the condition of this structure and expressed disappointment that this had not been previously brought to their attention.  They agreed this work be carried out as a matter of urgency.

DECISION

AGREED to approve up to £5k for emergency repair of lintel at Smedheugh Farm

4.4      Farms

In a general discussion about the farms, Members expressed concern that they were not aware of the state of repair of some of the buildings.  They referred to regular inspections of properties owned by the Common Good which used to be carried out by Members and asked that these be resumed. Officers confirmed that this could be arranged.  Ms Hill added that Property Services had been preparing a 5 year repair plan for all 3 farms and that this would be brought to the next meeting.  As advised in the financial report above, Ms Halliday confirmed that the property repair budget for 2020/21 had been increased to cover planned maintenance of the farm properties.  Ms Hill also referred to the recent Farm Amnesty on Tenant’s Improvements agreed for South Common Farm, which was brought to the attention of Members.  She advised that a similar Amnesty document had been requested for Linglie Farm.

            DECISION

(a)       NOTED that a 5 year repair plan for all 3 farm properties would be brought to the next meeting.

(b)       AGREED:-

(i)         that officers arrange inspections of Common Good properties by Sub Committee Members;

(ii)        to request that property updates to future meetings of the Sub Committee be in writing rather than in verbal form.