Agenda item

4 applications for approval:-

·Lothian Hall Committee

·  Cheviot Youth

·Kalewater Community Company

·Generations Working Together (application currently does not meet CF criteria)

5.0       CHEVIOT COMMUNITY fUND 2020/21CHEVIOT COMMUNITY fUND 2020/21

Assessments of four applications to the Cheviot Community Fund had been circulated, plus a summary of grant funding within Cheviot in 2020/21 and the source of that funding. The summary showed grant applications awarded, those under assessment and those to be considered by the Area Partnership.  Also included were funding commitments to Community Councils, Village Halls and Local Festivals.   Before consideration of the four pending applications, Ms Clare Malster outlined the process of assessment of applications to the Community Fund and the criteria used for that assessment. She advised that all applications to the Community Fund would be put forward to the Area Partnership for consideration, with officer assessment advising if the criteria had been met.  She went on to give a summary of each of the following applications under consideration and confirmed that each met the Community Fund criteria.

5.1       Lothian Hall Committee  

The application explained that Lothian Hall was a 120 year old traditionally built building and was owned and run by the local community.  The Hall served a rural community with many of the users travelling in from outlying settlements and provided opportunities for individuals to maintain social connections with one another and help to combat social isolation.  The local community had no shops or schools and therefore the hall was a key community asset for residents.  The group hoped to a hold social event as soon as it was possible to do so to bring the community together again following the restrictions of the past year.  Lothian Hall was a popular venue for local activities, particularly the informal fortnightly coffee mornings and monthly coffee evenings and hosted weekly meetings of the wood turners, local dog training group, regular surgeries for Elected Members, MP/MSP’s and had operated as a polling station for elections prior to the COVID restrictions.  Additionally the hall supported a range of seasonal events including a Christmas fayre, Easter gatherings and Kelso Civic week events and the introduction of gentle exercise classes was planned 2021.  All events were open to all and very popular with all ages.  Funding of £13,748 had been requested by the Lothian Hall Committee to install secondary glazing units to all 25 windows as the first step in improving the building thermal efficiency.  In the longer term the Hall Committee would also upgrade the heating system which would improve the thermal fabric of the building and thus the comfort of users, ensuring that groups could continue to

meet throughout the year whist utility costs were kept at an acceptable level and not passed on to hall users.

5.2       Cheviot Youth    

Cheviot Youth were requesting financial support in the sum of £25,151 for the enhanced delivery of Stepping Stones mental health and well-being service in Cheviot, which aimed to improve the mental health and well-being of children and young people.  Youth Borders co-ordinates a team of seven Project Workers to deliver Stepping Stones across the Borders.  Cheviot Youth planned to increase the capacity of the Stepping Stones service in Cheviot to meet local need and had requested funding to pay 50% of the salary cost of the Lead Practitioner (£18,673) and 33% of the salary cost of a Practitioner who would be recruited early 2021. The Lead Practitioner’s working hours would increase from 28 hours to 35 hours and the Practitioner would be employed for 16 hours per week (£5,086,).  The Lead Practitioner would be responsible for the day to day running of the Stepping Stones service and help plan service development.  The Practitioner would hold their own case load and

contribute to developmental work and provide supervision to a small number of Volunteer Practitioners.  In addition, Cheviot Youth requested £1,392 for the cost of providing monthly in-house counselling sessions for Practitioners led by a qualified practitioner.   Funding of £25,151 had been requested to enhance delivery of the Stepping Stones mental health and well-being service in Cheviot. 

5.3     Kalewater Community Company

The group were given the opportunity to purchase a 3 acre field behind the Village Hall on the condition it was used for the benefit of the community.  A community consultation was carried out along with open meetings and a survey of the community’s suggestions.  A recreation ground was identified as the communities chosen idea and plans were created for a children/toddlers play area, trim track, community garden, orchard and level playing field.  These proposals were submitted to SBC planning department in 2018 and planning consent was given with the condition that an Archaeological study was to be undertaken.   Quotes were obtained for this study and Clyde Archaeology was hired to carry out a Geophys.  This work was carried out in September 2019 and a report was sent to SBC on their findings.  SBC Planning Department now require the group to carry out further excavations and until this work was completed the group are unable to proceed with their proposals for the recreational area.  Funding of £7,403.53 had been requested to allow Clyde Archaeology to be commissioned to carry out the next stage investigation of Morebattle Archaeological Site.  The funding would cover a five-day evaluation of the site which would involve community engagement and training as well as school involvement on site.  Clyde Archaeology would hire a mechanical excavator to open up 4 to 5 evaluation tranches across the linear features at the northern end of the site, closest to the village, plus a few 1m square test pits targeting other possible anomalies and two archaeologists would be on site at all times. 

5.4     Generations Working Together

Generations Working Together (GWT) were looking to appoint a Development Officer who would plan and deliver a gardening project based at the Jedburgh Community Campus. The proposed project would be added to an existing post giving the part time officer additional hours.  The group were also looking for £5,000 to erect and install a Polytunnel in the school grounds which would be warmer and dryer allowing the group to continue to work on this project throughout the year and costs that would support the running of this project, including volunteer expenses and outdoor clothing for participants. Covid-19 had had a negative impact on people's access to learning and had aided in people feeling isolated and disconnected. The need for an intergenerational outdoor space was also backed by the Scottish Government who encouraged people to meet outdoors where physical distancing measures can be safely applied.  Young people participating in the RSPB wild challenge identified the need for an Intergenerational Garden to allow them to continue their learning and to create opportunities to learn and share skills and experiences with older people.  A sub group of the community council previously had use of a greenhouse at the old Grammar school in Jedburgh and now no longer had access to this area and required a new base so that they are able to carry on their work.

5.5     Representatives for each project were present via Microsoft Teams and given the opportunity to answer questions presented by those present.  There followed a lengthy discussion with regard to funding to be allocated.  As a consensus could not be reached a vote was held as follows:-

Option 1 – Allocate 100% of funding requested to Kalewater Community Company and Lothian Hall and the remainder be paid to those on the Fast Track Pending list

Option 2 – Allocate 100% of funding requested to Kalewater Community Company and the remainder be allocated to Cheviot Youth

On a show of Hands

3 votes for Option 1

2 votes for Option 2

DECISION

DECIDED to award 100% of funding requested to Kalewater Community Company and Lothian Hall and the remainder be paid to those on the Fast Track Pending list.