The External Services/Providers Monitoring Group of Scottish Borders Council met on Tuesday 18 August 2026. The meeting's agenda included a review of the first quarter report for SBc Contracts 2026/27 and a discussion on the SBc Contracts trading operation up to 30 June 2026.

SBc Contracts 1st Quarter Report 2026/27

The meeting was scheduled to consider a report by the Chief Officer Roads regarding the activity of SBc Contracts for the first quarter of the financial year 2026/27, covering the period up to 30 June 2026. The report outlined the workload update for SBc Contracts, which delivers infrastructure improvements across the council's roads and built estate. This includes road surface treatment, civil engineering works, internal building works, bond coat application, traffic management, and sign manufacture.

Specific details on road surfacing activity were to be discussed, including the commencement and completion of surface dressing and patching sites, covering an area of approximately 21,300m². The report was also expected to detail resurfacing works on the A701 at Lamancha, covering 3,200m², and the progress of the surface dressing programme, aiming for completion across approximately 155,000m² by the end of July.

The report was also set to cover pothole repairs, noting the use of the JCB Pothole Pro and the completion of 447 repairs using 3,085m² of asphalt. Furthermore, the progress of specialist bond coat operations for both Scottish Borders Council (SBC) and third-party clients, including frameworks with South Lanarkshire Council and a contract with West Dunbartonshire Council, was to be reviewed.

Major projects were also on the agenda, with updates on works commenced or completed for Hawick High School, Lowood Care Village in Tweedbank, Gunsgreen Industrial Estate in Eyemouth, and the Mountain Bike Innovation Centre in Innerleithen. Progress on the Borders Innovation Park Phase 2, Tweedbank Speedway Track, Teviot Crescent Link Footpath in Hawick, Earlston Primary School Car Park, and the renovation of Selkirk High School Games Hall and Changing Rooms were also scheduled for discussion.

The report was to include updates on the Bridge and Culvert repair programme, with projects such as Glenfield Footbridge in Galashiels and the replacement of the bridge deck on Haughhead, Innerleithen. The replacement of a culvert at Newlands on the B6359 was also to be mentioned. The Flood Prevention programme was at the pre-construction stage, with works expected to commence shortly, and the Eyemouth Seawall repairs were underway as part of the Sea Defences programme.

Works for Estates and Property were to be detailed, including the provision of Outdoor Learning Facilities at Clovenfords Primary School and improvements to playgrounds and car parks. The Tweed Trail's project, part of the Destination Tweed initiative, was progressing, with preparations for work in Tweeddale during 2026/27, including new footbridges, fencing, and track upgrading. Additionally, improvements to bus stops at Newstead and Chirnside, and major works to the bus stop at Border General Hospital, were to be reported, alongside the expansion of Active Travel Networks (ATN) within the Borders, including completed phases of the Lauder to Oxton Active Travel link.

The management update was expected to focus on increasing the use of aggregates from the Langlee recycling facility, which recycles material to produce usable aggregates for construction and civil engineering activities, as well as for sale to the public. The report was also to address the ongoing challenge of staff retention and recruitment within the service, with a focus on identifying talented individuals and managing the knowledge and experience leaving the organisation. The report was to mention the career pathway programme designed to support individuals in developing the necessary skills and competencies for substantive posts.

The report recommended that the External Services/Providers Monitoring Group note the activity of SBc Contracts for the first quarter of 2026/27.

SBc Contracts Trading Operation to 30 June 2026

The meeting was also scheduled to consider a report by the Chief Officer Roads concerning the SBc Contracts trading operation up to 30 June 2026. This report was to be taken in private session.

The meeting's agenda also included the consideration of the minute from the previous meeting held on 16 June 2026. Future meeting dates were also noted, with the next meetings scheduled for 25 August 2026 (CGI) and 1 September 2026 (Live Borders), and the subsequent SBc Contracts meeting planned for 17 November 2026.