Agenda item

Tweeddale assessment Panel to present funding recommendations for the following Neighbourhood Support Fund applications:

·         Walkerburn Community Craft Club

·         Interest Link Borders

·         West Linton Enterprise Group

·         Peebles Biodiversity and Ecology Group

(Copy attached.)

6.1       There had been circulated copies of the Tweeddale Assessment Panel Recommendations from 27 June 2022 with the agenda.  Ms Esther Daborn of the Tweeddale Assessment Panel provided an overview of the applications and other business related to the Panel.  Ms Daborn explained that 2 members of the Panel had left the Panel, and that 2 replacements had been identified following a recruitment process.  It was unanimously agreed to appoint Elizabeth Johnstone and Sheila Turnbull to the Tweeddale Assessment Panel.

6.2       Walkerburn Community Craft Club

The application from West Linton Community Craft Club was for £4,500 towards a £5,000 project aimed to expand the group and publicise what they were doing.  The funding would be used to acquire 2 sewing machines and equipment haberdashery, pay for tutor costs and the hiring of a hall.  Ms Daborn explained the Panel had recommended to fund the application despite a lack of information and some uncertainty around group size and the necessity of purchasing industrial sewing machines as they felt that the group was a good cause and liked their ideas.  Those in attendance highlighted that previous applications had been refused due to lack information and requested that applications be considered on a consistent basis.  The Elected Members in attendance spoke highly of the Group and their application, highlighting that they were extremely well organised, produced high quality goods, supported a unique social cohort and that they had not previously sought funding.  Ms Lacon explained that, following discussions with the group, the industrial style sewing machines were for more experienced members of the group, and that they would allow higher quality products to be created.  Members unanimously agreed to provide £4,500, subject to the Group exploring the viability of purchasing second hand equipment. 

6.3       Interest Link Borders

            Interest Link Borders had applied for £7,000 as part of a larger £60k+ project.  The group had been active since 1990, with 4 branches across the Scottish Borders.  The application was for activities, rent and tutor fees.  The group was noted as running befriending projects for children aged 8 and above with learning disabilities.  Ms Daborn explained that the Neighbourhood Support Fund criteria stipulated that applications for sums exceeding £5k had to evidence that project funding had been sought from other sources. In this instance as funding had not been sourced from other funding providers, the maximum value that the Panel could recommend was £5,000.  Members unanimously agreed to provide £5,000. 

6.4       West Linton Enterprise Group

            The application from the West Linton Enterprise Group was for £1,500 to improve a building that they used by installing loft insulation, flooring and an access ladder.  The building in question was used as a community shop, named ‘The Knot’.  The application had stipulated that there was a long term plan for the community to purchase the building that they used.  Ms Daborn explained that as the building was owned by a private individual, with no long term lease in place, the Panel was uncomfortable approving funding for the application and had recommended not to fund.  Mr Ian Reid, one of the committee members of the Group was in attendance, and was welcomed by the Chairman to provide his insight into the application.  Mr Reid clarified that the shop which operated in the building was a community conceived, community run shop.  The money raised by the shop was invested back into the community.  The building had been listed for sale by the Red Cross, and was purchased by a local member of the community with a view to selling the building to the community once the requisite funds had been raised.  Mr Reid explained that the current owner of the shop did not wish to profit from the sale, and that the Group was confident that the necessary funds would be raised within one year following work in conjunction with the Scottish Land Fund.  Members in attendance expressed that whilst what the Group sought to do had merit and deserved to be funded, the concerns raised due to the uncertainty inherent to the building being owned by a private individual needed to be addressed. It was therefore unanimously agreed by the Members in attendance to defer the application to allow the Group to seek an appropriate letter of comfort that would provide assurance regarding the occupancy of the building. 

6.5       Peebles Biodiversity and Ecology Group

The application from the Peebles Biodiversity and Ecology Group was for £1347.30 to fund the purchase of a commercial strimmer with battery and charger for a recently planted wild flower meadow.  Members unanimously agreed to fund the application in full.