The Community Planning Strategic Board met on Thursday 04 June 2026 to discuss a range of important issues affecting the Scottish Borders. Key topics included updates on child poverty, locality plans for Burnfoot, Bannerfield, and Langlee, and progress reports from various community plan delivery groups. The board also received quarterly partnership updates and reviewed the forward planner for future meetings.

Theme 1: Poverty

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to Theme 1: Poverty. This included an update on child poverty and a review of the Integrated Children's Annual Progress Report for 2025-26. The report detailed progress made in delivering the Children's Services Plan 2023-26, with a focus on four key networks: A Good Childhood, Whole Family Support, Planning and Building Capacity, and Supporting the Workforce.

The A Good Childhood network highlighted the commissioning of an Independent Children and Young People's Advocacy Service, improvements in foster carer recruitment, and efforts to enhance educational outcomes for care-experienced children. The Whole Family Support network reported on the launch of a Family Support Directory, the ongoing delivery of whole family support services, and progress on tackling child poverty through the Child Poverty Accelerator Fund.

The Planning and Building Capacity network focused on youth participation and engagement, the implementation of the UNCRC¹, and the development of multi-agency communication approaches. The Supporting the Workforce network detailed progress on a multi-agency Children and Young People's Workforce Strategy and Development Plan, alongside trauma-informed workforce development.

The report also detailed the use of the Whole Family Wellbeing Fund (WFWF) and the Child Poverty Accelerator Fund (CPAF), outlining how these funds supported early intervention, family support services, and targeted community initiatives.

Locality Plans Update

The board received updates on the progress of locality plans for three areas identified as being within the most deprived 20% of areas in Scotland: Burnfoot (Hawick), Langlee (Galashiels), and Bannerfield (Selkirk). These plans are being developed in close collaboration with the respective communities to address local needs and reduce inequality.

For Burnfoot, progress was reported on reducing anti-social behaviour, increasing access to activities, reducing poverty, increasing access to work, learning and training, improving the maintenance of public areas, and improving health for all residents.

In Bannerfield, the locality plan, covering 2026-2031, outlined priorities for community safety and wellbeing, travel, community activities and engagement, reducing poverty, and environmental quality and pride of place. The plan was developed through community conversations and surveys, highlighting residents' views on what matters most to them.

Updates were also provided for Langlee, with community consultation underway to shape the locality plan.

Children and Young People's Services Plan (2026-29)

The board was asked to endorse the Children & Young People's Services Plan 2026-2029 before its submission to the Scottish Government. This plan, developed by the Children and Young People's Planning Partnership (CYPPP), is a statutory requirement under the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014². The plan is informed by national and local context, evidence from a joint strategic needs assessment, and engagement with children and young people. Strategic priorities are set out to align with The Promise³, a national initiative focused on improving outcomes for children and young people.

The board also considered the Scottish Government Children's Rights Report (2023-26) and the council's response. This report detailed initiatives implemented over the past three years and planned actions to further incorporate the rights of children and young people. The board was asked to approve the content of the report, its publication, and endorse the proposed priority actions for 2026-2029.

Community Plan Delivery Groups Progress Reports

Progress reports were noted from various Community Plan Delivery Groups, covering Theme 1 (Poverty), Theme 2 (Learning, Skills & Economy), Theme 3 (Good Health & Wellbeing), and Theme 4 (Place, Community & Connectivity). The introduction of indicators to aid the reporting and tracking of progress from these groups was also mentioned.

Quarterly Partnership Updates

Updates were received from several partnerships:

• Children & Young People's Planning Partnership (CYPPP): Highlights included the Community Baby Bank initiative, progress on the GIRFEC⁴ framework, and the development of a draft paper on strategic approaches to children and young people's mental health and wellbeing. Updates on the UNCRC¹ training and the Children's Rights Report were also provided.
• Community Justice Partnership: The board reviewed the Year 2 (2025–2026) priority action plan for the Scottish Borders Community Justice Local Outcomes Improvement Plan 2024 - 2029. Discussions included the Justice Social Work Peer Mentoring Programme, employability support for individuals with criminal convictions, and the availability of restorative justice.
• CLD Strategic Partnership: The board received an update on the Scottish Borders Community Learning and Development (CLD) Strategic Partnership Plan 2024-27, highlighting progress on increasing accreditation offers, developing pathways for ESOL⁵ learners, improving data gathering, and strengthening adult learning and employability support.

Other Business

The board also considered a proposal for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to join the Community Planning Partnership Delivery Board. A report was presented outlining the process for amending the Operating & Governance Framework to include the DWP.

A final draft charter to formalise relationships between Place Directors, the Scottish Government, and the CPP was also discussed. Due to time constraints, it was proposed that the Delivery Board develop a recommendation for the CPP to endorse, with the Chair of the Strategic Board delegated to submit the response to the Scottish Government.

The venue for the next meeting was confirmed as Council Headquarters, Newtown St Boswells.