Agenda item

Eildon Assessment Panel to present funding recommendations for the following NSF applications:

·         Melrose in Bloom

·         Live Learn Earn CIC

·         Go Wild Scotland

·         Hike and Bike Hub

·         Galashiels Bowling Club

·         Ettrick and Yarrow Community Development Company

·         Lauder Larder

(To follow.)

9.1       There had been circulated copies of the Eildon Assessment Panel’s recommendations as a supplement to the agenda. The Chair welcomed Ms Jenny Mushlin of the Eildon Assessment Panel to provide an overview of each of the recommendations. 

9.2       Melrose in Bloom

Melrose in Bloom had applied for £5.75k to replace a wooden fence between the Boat Brae footpath and Melrose Bowling Club.  The fence would follow the line of, and replace, an extant fence which had fallen into disrepair.  The Assessment Panel had expressed concerns regarding a lack of clarity on land ownership and future maintenance obligations.  Melrose in Bloom additionally had financial reserves.  The Panel recommended not to fund the project as a result of those concerns.  Members unanimously agreed not to fund the project.  

9.3       Live, Learn, Earn 

            The application from Live, Learn, Earn was for £3.8k for a project which would support eight individuals over a twelve week period.  The project would involve attendees undertaking one metal work session per week.  The Panel were concerned at an overall lack of clarity with the application.  It was not clear where the sessions would take place, quotations were not fully detailed and the breakdown of overall project costs had also been deemed vague.   The Panel recommended not to fund the project.  Members unanimously agreed not to fund the project. 

9.4       Hike and Bike Hub

            A £6.1k application from the Hike and Bike Hub had been received to cover ongoing rental costs for 9 months.  The Eildon Area Partnership had previously approved funding for a project which provided affordable bike hire, servicing and maintenance as well as led cycles and guided walks. The Panel felt that the project had delivered positive outcomes in the area, and that the applicants had established strong partnership working with local community groups and businesses.  It was highlighted that income generation by the Hike and Bike Hub had increased month and month, and the Panel felt that the funding applied for would the group to continue to move towards sustainability.  The Panel had recommended that the application be approved in full.  The Chair invited the applicants to address the meeting. Mrs Angela Crow thanked the Area Partnership for its support and explained that she was happy to provide progress reports in the future.  Members unanimously agreed to fund the project in full.

9.5       Go Wild Scotland 

            Go Wild Scotland had applied for £9,992.78 to support the ongoing employment of one full-time member of staff, paid at the national living wage for 6 months.  The role would be to develop the group’s community engagement activities at Mauldsheugh Wood in Selkirk; continue its work with local schools; expand its volunteering programme; develop nature-based activities; and develop a programme of ranger-led walks and wildlife tours in the region.  The Panel were supportive of work which Go-Wild had undertaken to date and acknowledged the excellent work they had done at local schools.  However, the Panel were concerned that Go-Wild had received a Neighbourhood Support Fund grant for staff costs in the previous year and felt that Go-Wild should seek other sourcing of funding to help meet their staffing costs.  The Panel had recommended not to fund the application.  The Chair welcomed Mr Gethin Chamberlain of Go-Wild to the meeting to discuss his application. In response to a request to play a video prepared by Go-Wild, the Chair explained that in the interests of fairness, and in line with standard orders, a late submission could not accepted.  Mr Chamberlain explained that Go-Wild had delivered an excellent outdoor nature education service, with particular focus on 6 local schools.  In the region of 250 pupils had taken part in nature activities. Discussions had been held with a business expert, who believed Go-Wild could become self-funding based on sales and other factors.  Mr Chamberlain explained that the funding applied for would allow Go-Wild to survive until it reached a more secure position and highlighted that they were a social enterprise, not run for profit.  Following extensive discussions regarding whether it was appropriate to provide repeat funding to a single group, in particular for salary costs, consensus could not be reached on the application. Councillor Parker, seconded by Councillor Thornton-Nicol proposed that the recommendation of the Assessment Panel be upheld, and the application for funding be rejected. Councillor Jardine, seconded by Councillor Cochrane proposed that the recommendation of the Assessment Panel be overturned, and the application for funding be granted.

VOTE

Councillor Parker, seconded by Councillor Thornton-Nicol moved that the application for funding be denied.

Councillor Jardine, seconded by Councillor Cochrane moved as an amendment that the application for funding be approved.

As the meeting was conducted by Microsoft Teams members were unable to vote by the normal show of hands and gave a verbal response as to how they wished to vote the result of which was as follows: -

   Motion – 3 votes

   Amendment – 4 votes

   The amendment was accordingly carried, and the funding application for £9992.78 was approved.

9.6       Galashiels Bowling Club 

            Galashiels Bowling Club had applied for £10k to replace the existing felt covering on its pavilion roof.  The Assessment Panel were unsure whether the Neighbourhood Support Fund was the most appropriate fund for the project and had recommended not to fund the application.  Members unanimously agreed not to approve the application. 

9.7       Ettrick and Yarrow Community Development Company

            The application from Ettrick and Yarrow Community Development Company sought £10k for salary costs for a community forest ranger, so that the group could continue their work maintaining access and improving the Ettrick Marshes.  The outdoor nature area at the old Ettrick school would also be improved.  The group was including 12 days of additional ranger help to assist jobs where two people were required.  There was no vehicle access to the marshes, so all materials needed to be carried.  The Panel felt that the application was similar to the application discussed at paragraph 8.5, and in the interests of consistency they had recommended not to fund.  Members unanimously agreed not to fund the application. 

9.8       Lauder Larder

Lauder Larder had applied for £5.4k of funding to help purchase a freezer, laptop, shelving, cookery books, and a years’ worth of core products.  The purchase of the freezer would allow the group to freeze food for its customers.  The laptop would allow recipes to be typed up and printed.  The Panel had recommended to approve the application in full.  Members welcomed the project and encouraged the group not to purchase cookbooks given the availability of free recipes.