Agenda item

Draft 2020/21 Key Priorities/Action Plan for approval.  (Report and Draft Plan attached)

Copies of a report presenting the CPP key priorities and action plan that would be the main focus of the Scottish Borders Community Planning Partnership work for the next 12 months had been circulated prior to the meeting.  The SBC Service Director Customer & Communities advised that this was a dynamic document and while some of the key priorities and actions were already in the existing Community Plan and Locality Plans, more had been added in response to Covid-19, and these would provide the main focus for the Community Planning Partnership over the next year.  The SBC Communities & Partnership Manager further added that the list was not exhaustive with engagement of partners and communities needed to take these forward.  The localities model was under development along with digital access.  With regard to alleviate poverty, the Child Poverty Action Plan and development of the Anti-Poverty Strategy would help with this.  A fast paced response was needed in the economy as things were changing rapidly.  Angela Cox, Borders College Principal, advised that the Borders Learning and Skills Partnership was taking a collective approach, tracking all developments e.g. No Young Person Left Behind.  Nile Istephan, Eildon Housing Chief Executive, further advised that more funding had been levered in; community wi-fi was being rolled out to sheltered housing, with work underway with the Scottish Government ‘Internet of Things’ across the Borders.  There was interest in the Strategic Property Group from RSLs and others.  The work in Food Hubs had been really impressive, with Fareshare in Galashiels and Eildon Housing distributing food to 30 community groups.  This work was sponsored by Government schemes and while funding was due to finish at the end of November, investigations were being made as to how this could continue throughout the pandemic and beyond.  There were also huge opportunities for SMEs in climate and carbon reduction work.  Cllr Rowley confirmed that the Council had signed up to Climate Change and had appointed a new Portfolio Holder for Sustainability.  The aim was to work to the UN Sustainable Development goals.  Cllr Rowley praised the work of Eildon Housing on the food distribution network across the Borders and advised he would be happy to speak with Scottish Ministers regarding funding if Nile Istephan could furnish him with the details.  Nick Halfhide, Chief Executive with SoSE, confirmed the Enterprise Agency’s involvement in the Community Planning Partnership, with focus on the zero carbon agenda, and the establishment of links with RSLs and the private sector.  The immediate priority was to keep people in work, moving the economy of, and employment in, the South of Scotland to a new era.  Ralph Roberts, Chief Executive of Borders Health Board, requested the Covid vaccine programme be added in to the Plan.  With regard to the recommendations within the report, the Board requested that progress would be reported at each meeting rather than on a six monthly basis.

AGREED:

(a)     to approve the draft Key Priorities and Action Plan as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report;

(b)     that the Plan continued to be developed as the response to the ongoing pandemic continued, and actions added as required; and

(c)     the Plan would be progressed by the CPP Programme Board and that progress wold be reported to each meeting of the CPP Strategic Board for scrutiny.