The William Hill Trust Sub-Committee of Scottish Borders Council met on Tuesday 25 August 2026 to consider a financial monitoring report and an application for financial assistance.

Finance Monitoring Report

The Sub-Committee was scheduled to consider a Finance Monitoring Report from the Director of Finance. This report would have provided details of the income and expenditure for the William Hill Trust Fund for the year ending 31 March 2026, along with the draft budget for the year ending 31 March 2027 and forecast information for the subsequent two years. The report from the previous meeting on 16 June 2026 indicated that the Trust's fund had a surplus balance of £80,267 on 31 March 2026, against a forecasted surplus of £97,619. It also detailed that grants approved in the year to 31 March 2026 amounted to £31,788 against a forecast of £18,628. The financial information presented was subject to external audit.

Application for Financial Assistance - Trimontium Trust

A significant item on the agenda was the consideration of an application for financial assistance of £15,000 from the Trimontium Trust. The Trimontium Trust, a charity dedicated to promoting the story of the Roman site of Trimontium and the wider Roman history of Scotland, sought funding to purchase and build a cabin at the Trimontium Fort site. This cabin would serve to support access and outdoor learning activities, interpreting military and civilian life, and indigenous culture within the landscape. The application detailed that the cabin would function as a visitor reception, a muster point for guided walks, and a storage facility for learning materials and equipment. It was also intended to be an educational base for the construction of a replica Iron Age roundhouse. The Trimontium Trust had previously secured substantial funding from various bodies, including the National Lottery Heritage Fund and South of Scotland Enterprise.

The report pack included a legal opinion from Jillian Bluett, a solicitor at Scottish Borders Council, regarding the eligibility of the Trimontium Trust's application. Ms. Bluett's view was that the Trust Disposition and Settlement executed by William Hill in 1948 did not require funded projects to be physically located within the historic Burgh of Melrose. Instead, the key criterion was whether the trustees could reasonably conclude that the expenditure would benefit the inhabitants of Melrose. The opinion noted that William Hill's trust deed also acknowledged Newstead and Gattonside as communities intended to benefit, suggesting a broader geographical scope than just Melrose itself. Therefore, a project located at Newstead would not automatically be ineligible.

The report pack also contained the Trimontium Trust's annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. These documents showed a positive financial position for the Trust, with an increase in visitor numbers, shop spend, and membership. The Trustees' Report highlighted the Trust's achievements, including multiple awards and significant expansion of community archaeology activities. The financial statements indicated total funds carried forward of £2,071,621 as at 31 December 2024.

The report pack indicated that the application was to be continued for a future meeting to allow for advice to be presented to the Sub-Committee on whether the William Hill Trust could fund a project located outside of Melrose, specifically at Newstead.