Agenda item

(a)    Place Making update                                                            40 mins

(b)    Community Empowerment                                                  15 mins

·         Overview

·         Participation requests

·         Asset transfer

·         Food Growing Strategy

(c)     Warm and Well – Ruth Dickinson, Changeworks               15 mins

SECTION 1: SERVICE & PARTNER UPDATES

1.0             PLACE MAKING UPDATE

4.1         With reference to paragraph 3 of the Minute of 30 June 2021, SBC Service Director Customer & Communities, Mrs Jenni Craig, and SBC Portfolio Manager, Mr James Lamb, were in attendance to present an update on Place Making.  Mr Lamb advised that the approach to Place Making presented at the previous meeting had been approved by Scottish Borders Council.  With regards to staff recruitment, five community engagement officer posts had been filled along with two planning and regeneration officers, and a green space officer.  Recruitment for the Climate Change Officer remained ongoing and ways to improve the attractiveness of the   post were being investigated.  Further work had been undertaken on creating smaller settlement profiles, which incorporated statistics taken from national level on population change, access to amenities and deprivation levels.  This would be published on the Council’s website along with the smaller town index.

4.2         Mr Lamb presented a summary of feedback received from the five Area Partnerships on the proposed joint principles, framework, prioritisation, and terms of reference.  Across the five Area Partnerships, 21 responses were received, including four received from the Cheviot Area Partnership.  Mr Lamb noted that approximately 570 email addresses received the Place Making consultation questionnaire, and the response rate represented was just under 4% return.  That rate would not be representative and was not therefore conclusive, but the feedback was informative for the process.  It was further noted that the Council report may not have been an effective means to consult and that feedback may be supplemented by other means including a special meeting or workshop.  Attendees noted that the timeframe for the consultation was short and didn’t lend itself to Community Council meeting schedules to provide more effective feedback.  It was acknowledged that 13 joint principles were too many, and the more principles there were the less effective they became.  Mr Lamb undertook to re-examine the principles, reduce their number and synthesise them in a more succinct manner.  The feedback on the Joint Framework was largely positive, with the focus primarily on the need to simplify the language used and whether the approach was sustainable in the long term.

4.3         Following considerable discussions by those present it was agreed that the proposed method of identifying initial communities for action be disregarded and a new approach sought. The Chairman proposed that the Portfolio Manager organise a workshop with all interested parties to examine the approach to identifying initial communities again, following which a group would be formed that would make a prioritisation list and report back to the Area Partnership. Members endorsed this approach as a more effective way to make nuanced decisions on what levels of support should be provided to communities based on their differing levels of capacity to undertake projects and gain access to funding. The Chairman thanked Mr Lamb for his presentation and the work that he had undertaken.

DECISION

NOTED the Update.

4.4         Mr Burton enquired about investment in electric vehicles and the need for millions to be invested and Mrs Craig confirmed that funding streams were being considered, although funding was a challenge for everyone.  In response to a question about the involvement of Community Councils, Mrs Craig confirmed that Community Councils were key players and communities needed to get involved, everyone had a valid opinion.  Charles Strang enquired about the Community Plan and Mrs Craig confirmed that the Community Planning partnership was for the whole of the Scottish Borders and would influence the Community Plan.   Councillor Weatherston enquired what other Local Authorities were doing in response to this as it was vital to make it work, although it was not clear how it would work.

            DECISION

            NOTED that feedback on the Place making proposals should be sent to Mr Lamb, SBC Portfolio Manager, by 31 October 2021.

5.0         WARM AND WELL – CHANGEWORKS 

Ruth Dickinson, Changeworks was present to inform the Area Partnership about Affordable Warmth Services in the Scottish Borders.  Changes works collaborate with Scottish Government agencies, local authorities, housing associations, business, schools, Community Groups and individuals to improve energy efficiency, reduce fuel poverty, prevent waste and inspire and scale up low carbon behaviours.  Criteria for identifying fuel poverty where; low income, in receipt of benefits, use of electricity as a primary heating fuel and larger /older properties.  Successful outcomes included 42% helped with debt and billing resolution – amounts resolved ranging from £100 to over £2,000 of savings for one client.  Clients supported with Warm Home Discount applications and external grant funding including emergency top ups.  55% of clients had received advice on switching and explored options and to date in excess of 560 households had been supported to collectively save £760k.