This week, several key meetings took place across the Scottish Borders Council, with significant decisions made that will impact various communities. Here’s a detailed look at the discussions and outcomes from these meetings.

Coldstream Common Good Fund Sub-Committee - Wednesday 26 June 2024

The Coldstream Common Good Fund Sub-Committee met to discuss applications to the Common Good Fund and to review the fund's finances.

Applications for Funding

The committee considered two applications for funding:

1. Coldstream Civic Week requested £5,000 from the Common Good Fund to cover increased costs of insurance, first aid provision, and to mitigate potential losses due to poor weather. The committee agreed to grant the full amount requested.
2. Coldstream Community Trust requested £10,000 for a community event planned for September. Due to a lack of detail in the application, the committee deferred the decision until more information could be provided.

Common Good Fund Finances

The committee reviewed a report on the financial position of the Common Good Fund as of 31 March 2024. The report highlighted that income for the year to date was significantly lower than anticipated, attributed to delays in concluding new leases on agricultural holdings.

More information about Scottish Borders Council's Common Good Funds can be found on their website.

Scottish Borders Council - Thursday 27 June 2024

The Scottish Borders Council meeting covered several important topics, including the Local Child Poverty Action Report, the transformation of Live Borders, and the council's British Sign Language plan.

Live Borders

The council discussed the ongoing transformation of Live Borders, an arms-length organisation responsible for cultural and leisure services in the Scottish Borders. The council approved an amendment to the current governance arrangements, increasing its oversight of Live Borders' finances. This change means the council will now have to approve Live Borders' annual business plan, allowing for greater scrutiny and influence over the organisation's spending. The subsidy from Scottish Borders Council to Live Borders has increased from £6.8m to £9.2m since 2019/20.

Child Poverty Action Report

Councillors approved the Scottish Borders Local Child Poverty Report 2024-25 and Progress Report 2023 (Item No. 7 - Appendix 1 Scottish Borders Local Child Poverty Report 2024-25 and Progress Report 2023). The report highlighted that 1,975 children in the Scottish Borders are living in poverty, with the cost of living crisis disproportionately affecting low-income families. The council's Child Poverty Action Plan was also discussed, with some criticism that it largely continued existing policies rather than introducing new initiatives.

British Sign Language Plan

The council approved the British Sign Language plan, which outlines how Scottish Borders Council will fulfil its duties under the British Sign Language (Scotland) Act 2015. However, there was significant discussion about the plan’s lack of ambition. Councillors expressed concerns that several targets had not been updated since the previous plan. Officers acknowledged these concerns but argued that the plan provided a solid foundation for improving support for BSL users.

Lauder Common Good Fund Sub-Committee - Monday 24 June 2024

The Lauder Common Good Fund Sub-Committee approved two grants totaling £4,850.

Lauder in Bloom – Application for Funding

The committee granted £3,000 to Lauder in Bloom, a community group that maintains floral displays in the town of Lauder. The group cited increasing costs due to inflation and difficulties sourcing certain plants post-Brexit.

Lauder Community Council – Application for Funding

The committee also approved £1,850 for Lauder Community Council to cover their running costs, including audit fees, room hire, public notices, and website costs. The increase in audit costs was attributed to the council's adoption of a new financial system called 'Civica'.

Other Meetings

• Audit Committee - Tuesday 25 June 2024: No transcript available.
• Pension Fund Investment and Performance Sub-Committee - Monday 24 June 2024: Meeting cancelled.
• Kelso Common Good Sub-Committee - Tuesday 25 June 2024: Meeting cancelled.