Agenda item

General update by Estates Surveyor.

The Estates Surveyor, Ms Stewart raised a number of property items as follows:-

(a)       A number of fences on the land leased by the Lauderhill Sheep Company required replacement due to damage.  The total cost to the Common Good was £1,365 plus VAT.  The Common Good were responsible for 50% of the costs of repair shared with the Lauderhill Sheep Company or 25%of the costs where there was a neighbouring boundary.

(b)       The Lauderhill Sheep Company had requested a discussions regarding sheep handling facilities and Ms Stewart would arrange a meeting with them to discuss and report back to a future meeting of the Sub-Committee.

(c)       The Estates Manager was considering a proposal for a cycling track on land leased by the Lauderhill Sheep Company and was about to enter into discussions with them.  If this was agreed it would result in a small rent reduction and the outcome would be reported back to the Sub-Committee.

(d)       It was understood that the Annual Sheep Dog Trails would still be held in November on Common Good land with the permission of the Lauderhill Sheep Company and the Council.  However, the Council would check that these were Covid compliant before they would be allowed to proceed.

(e)       The British Ornithological Society had requested permission to tag grouse on Lauder Common and this had been cleared with the Lauderhill Sheep Company.

(f)        With reference to paragraph 5.1 of the Minute of 19 February 2020, Ms Stewart advised that as part of the Lauder Burn woodland planting scheme the required fencing of the burn would proceed shortly with planting in December/January.  As previously agreed it is necessary to provide solar water pumps once the burn is fenced off.  The Penmanshiel Grant would fund one solar pump and the Sub-Committee were asked to agree to fund the second at a cost of £1,500 plus VAT.  The type of fence running along the burn had been agreed with the tenant of Calfward Park.   It had also been agreed that the Calfward Park grazing would be split into two parts to allow grazing over the whole year.  The cost of this fencing would be approximately £750 plus VAT which would be funded by the Lauder Common Good.   With regard to the lease of the grazings known as Refuse Tips 1 and 2, Ms Stewart was to meet with the potential tenant next week to discuss the lease and improvements to the land.  A report on the outcome would be provided to a future meeting of the Sub-Committee.

(g)       With reference to paragraph 5.2 of the Minute of 19 February 2020, Ms Stewart advised that the report on the condition of the poplar trees had recommended that up to 14 are to be removed.  However, before this work could be done a bat survey was required at an approximate cost of £750 plus VAT.  Once this had been completed a felling / tree works pruning plan would be drawn up and quotations and recommendations would be brought back to the Sub-Committee.

(h)       Ms Stewart advised that Scottish Power had notified that they intended to carry out works off the Muircleuch Road.  The first works would be carried out in November with further upgrading works in February next year.  Although they had powers to carry out these works it was necessary to protect the position of the Common Good Fund to ensure proper reinstatement works so a wayleave would be entered into.

Members discussed the funding of the works detailed at (a), (f) and (g) above and in response to a question on budget, Mrs Robb advised that the Common Good Fund did have a responsibility to maintain its assets and budgeted for property costs although grant funding was always sought where possible.

DECISION

(a)       AGREED that to approve the expenditure detailed at (a), (f) and (g) above.

(b)       NOTED the other items and that further reports would be provided where appropriate.