The Hawick Common Good Fund Sub-Committee met on Wednesday 9 September 2026 to discuss financial monitoring, woodland management, and various property-related matters. The meeting's agenda included a review of the fund's financial performance, an update on the common good woodland management plan, and discussions regarding the Common Haugh toilets and sluice.

Financial Monitoring Report

The committee was scheduled to consider the Monitoring Report for the three months ending 30 June 2026, prepared by the Director of Finance, Suzy Douglas. This report provided details of the income and expenditure for the Hawick Common Good Fund for the specified period, along with a full-year forecast for 2026/27 and high-level projections for the subsequent two years.

The report indicated a forecast deficit for the Hawick Common Good Fund, with the projected balance at the end of 2026/27 being £69,462, improving to a deficit of £1,206 by the end of 2028/29. Appendix 1 of the report detailed the total income and expenditure, while Appendix 2 outlined forecast property costs, offset by anticipated rental income. Appendix 3 provided information on the grant budget available for 2026/27, with £5,000 remaining. Appendix 4 presented the value of the Aegon Asset Management Investment Fund as at 30 June 2026, showing a value of £480,220 and a forecast investment income of £21,177 for the year, demonstrating growth in the fund.

The Director of Finance, Suzy Douglas, recommended that the Sub-Committee note the actual and forecast income and expenditure, property expenditure, grant budget, and the current position of the Aegon Asset Management Investment Fund.

Woodland Management Plan

An update on the common good woodland management plan was scheduled for discussion. The report highlighted several points for consideration, including the possibility of thinning in the golf course area, the need for weed, rabbit, hare, and deer control, and the limited natural regeneration. Concerns were raised about the feasibility of Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) and the lack of consultation regarding the block adjacent to the Whitlaw Wood Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

General recommendations included deer and grey squirrel control, planting robust mixtures of trees with similar growth rates, and focusing on grey squirrel control while still planting species like oak and beech. The report advised against planting fast-growing spruce in areas around the golf course, suggesting that other areas could be retained as long as possible but still follow a clearfell and restock cycle. It also suggested considering replacement with native broadleaves in areas that are difficult to access or where they could improve the landscape fit of spruce blocks. Timely thinning was noted as aiding stability and providing future options. For compartment 1, adjacent to the SSSI, the plan was to encourage natural regeneration of native broadleaves and, when budget allowed, remove invasive Sitka spruce and sycamore, considering enrichment planting with sessile oak, hazel, and aspen if gaps remained.

Specific recommendations for operations included respace, first thin, light thin, selective thin, fell, maintenance, replacement planting, and safety checks across various compartments. The report was prepared by woodland consultant Stephen Adlard in September 2026.

Common Haugh Toilets and Sluice

The agenda included separate items for discussion regarding the Common Haugh Toilets and the Common Haugh Sluice. The minutes from a previous meeting on 22 July 2026 indicated that Councillor Stuart Marshall had requested an item be placed on a future agenda to discuss security at the Common Haugh toilets, a request that Councillor Clair Ramage, Chair of the Sub-Committee, had noted and asked officers to include.

Naming of the Gap Site

The Sub-Committee was also scheduled to discuss the naming of the Gap Site. Supporting documents included a location plan for Almetronge Link 4-5 Teviot Creek, Hawick.

Other Business

The agenda also included standard items such as apologies for absence, order of business, and declarations of interest. A minute and action tracker was to be considered, including the minutes of previous meetings held on 17 June 2026 and 22 July 2026, and an update on actions from the Hawick Common Good Fund Sub-Committee. A financial assistance evaluation tracker, noting returned evaluation forms from groups that had been awarded grants, was also to be considered.

The meeting also had a section for private business, which would be held under exclusion of the public, as per Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, due to the likely disclosure of exempt information. This private business included consideration of the private section of the minute and action tracker, correspondence regarding Hawick Moor Racecourse, and an update on Common Good property.