The External Services/Providers Monitoring Group of Scottish Borders Council met on Tuesday 1 September 2026 to review the performance of Live Borders, the organisation responsible for delivering sport, leisure, and cultural services across the region. The meeting's agenda focused on the Live Borders Performance Report for the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year.

Live Borders Performance Report - Quarter 1 2026/27

The primary focus of the meeting was the consideration of the Live Borders Performance Report for the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year. This report, prepared by Jenni Craig, Director Resilient Communities, provided an overview of the performance of commissioned sport, physical activity, and cultural services. The report detailed the ongoing joint transformation programme between Scottish Borders Council and Live Borders, which aims to ensure the long-term sustainability of services.

Key areas covered in the report included:

• Sport Facilities & Participation: The report indicated positive participation trends in sports facilities, with increasing numbers compared to previous quarters and years. Specific investments were noted, including £500,000 for the conversion of the indoor bowling centre at Tweedbank into a gymnastics, play, and youth fitness space, and further investment at Teviotdale Leisure Centre to improve changing facilities, fitness areas, and the café. Several leisure centres, including Kelso and Selkirk, had extended their opening hours. A gymnastics block at Kelso High School had attracted 35 participants, with efforts underway to recruit qualified gymnastics staff.

• Sport Membership: Membership rates for key areas such as Learn2 Swim, Tri Fitness, and Junior Membership were reported as positive. Galashiels Swimming Pool was noted as being particularly popular. The report detailed the number of members across various swimming pools, with Galashiels having the highest at 638. Opportunities to increase lesson capacity by approximately 250 spaces through more effective pool programming were being explored.

• Active Communities (Health Development & Community Centres): Health referrals were up compared to the previous year, partly due to a pilot project offering free 6-month Health Memberships to clients referred by the NHS Wellbeing Service. The recruitment of a Social Prescribing Coordinator and two part-time Health Interventions Coaches was highlighted to support the expansion of the health and prevention agenda. Live Borders continued to work with 10 community centres, which are managed by independent volunteer committees, and was exploring Community Asset Transfer opportunities with local groups.

• Museums, Galleries, Archive and Visitor Attractions: The report indicated a gradual decline in footfall at museums since 2023/24. Specific visitor numbers for various venues, including Mary Queen of Scots' Visitor Centre, Jedburgh Castle Jail Museum, and Hawick Museum, were provided. Efforts to increase footfall included the development of an Escape Room and Costumed Tours at Jedburgh Jail, funded by Museums Galleries Scotland. The report also mentioned the closure of Peebles Library and Museum due to works at the Chambers Institution, with library services being delivered via a mobile vehicle and museum services relocated. An exhibition, 'Past, Present, Future: The Royal Scottish Academy in the Borders', opened at The Scott Gallery, Hawick Museum, showcasing works by artists with ties to the Scottish Borders.

• Libraries: Physical library visits, including those to mobile libraries, showed a downward trend after a period of increase. The report provided a table of library visits across different sites, with Galashiels and Hawick having the highest numbers. The number of active library members, defined as those who have used their card within the previous 12 months, was also detailed, with Galashiels Library having the most active members. The closure of Peebles Library was noted as a factor that would impact future figures, potentially increasing mobile library usage.

• Town Halls / Events / Arts / Creativity: Heart of Hawick recorded a total cinema audience of 1,455 customers in Q1. The report mentioned a live screening of 'The Colour Bussing' as part of Hawick Common Riding, which required technical collaboration to resolve issues with the live link. Various events were held at Heart of Hawick, including sold-out performances and the Alchemy Film Festival. The Art Along the Borders Railway Line competition, funded by a grant, received over 200 entries from across Scotland, with winning artworks displayed at Borders Railway line stations.

• Corporate: The Business Transformation Programme (BTP), agreed in November 2025 and amended in May 2026, includes capital investment into facilities and aims to deliver increased income and financial savings. The report noted that generated income as a percentage of total turnover is increasing, while staff costs as a percentage of generated income are decreasing, indicating a reduced reliance on management fees. External funding submissions showed a downward trend in Q1, though funding was secured from the British Museum for interactive digital displays at GTOS and from the Scottish Borders Climate Action Network for climate-focused creative activities. The report also highlighted a negative trend in staff absence and turnover, although staff absence rates remained low. New marketing staff had been appointed, and IT infrastructure improvements were being made. The Live Borders Corporate Strategy for 2026-2031 was noted as being in place, with Year 1 focused on 'Stabilisation'.

• Live Borders KSI Performance: The report presented Key Strategic Indicators (KSIs) showing performance against targets. For the quarter, 18 KSIs were rated Green (within 5% of target), 1 was Amber (within 15% of target), and 6 were Red (over 15% from target). The long-term performance trend showed 14 measures with a positive trend, 10 with a negative trend, and 1 static. Detailed graphs and tables illustrated performance trends for various indicators, including sport participation, library visits and borrowing, museum visits, membership rates, health referrals, earned income, staff costs, external funding, member retention, staff absence and turnover, energy usage, and financial surplus/deficit.

The meeting was scheduled to consider the Live Borders Performance Report and seek clarification from officers or Live Borders representatives on any identified issues. The group was to determine whether they were satisfied with the information provided regarding the performance of commissioned services for the first quarter of 2026/27. The next meeting was scheduled for 8 December 2026.