The Community Council Funding Review Working Group met to discuss options for the future of community council funding, including potential changes to grant modelling, terms and conditions, hall hire reimbursements, and the re-establishment of a Borders-wide community council network. The meeting also included an update on the action tracker and the election of a Vice Chair.

Support Grant Modelling Options

The working group was scheduled to consider various options for modelling community council support grants. These included proposals based on population changes, alternative population banding, and a base rate option with additional per capita funding. One model explored a fixed base rate of £585 with a 23p per head rate, which would ensure no community council lost funding, though larger ones would see significant increases. Another option suggested a 10% increase for all community councils, with no single council receiving more than £200 extra. The Finance Technician, Clare Armstrong, was expected to present further variations on a base rate funding model for future discussion.

Support Grant Terms and Conditions: Awarding Grants to Third Party Organisations and Individuals

The meeting was set to discuss the terms and conditions for awarding support grants, specifically focusing on whether community councils should be permitted to grant funds to other organisations and individuals. This followed previous discussions where it was agreed that any decision on this matter should be made with all members of the working group present. The report pack indicated that the previous recommendation was to maintain the support grant for community council operational costs, with any underspend available for community benefit.

Hall Hire Reimbursement

The working group was scheduled to review hall hire reimbursements for community councils. The report pack indicated that 58 different community councils had applied for reimbursements over the past four years, with the highest single reimbursement being £420 and the lowest £20. The estimated budget required to cover all potential applications, based on the highest average reimbursement in 2024/25, was £8,537.60, representing an 18% increase on the 2024/25 spend. The working group was asked to consider a 10% increase to the available budget, bringing it to £7,934.35.

Funding for a Borders-wide Community Council Network

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing the potential re-establishment of a Borders-wide community council network. The Scottish Borders Community Councils' Network (SBCCN) had previously received an annual grant of £1,250 but had fallen into abeyance. The report pack outlined that a review of non-financial support had recommended the establishment of a new Borders-wide network, which would complement existing locality networks. The proposed role of this new network would be to arrange seminars, workshops, conferences, and networking opportunities, a role supported by 81% of community councils in a consultation. The working group was to consider funding options for this network, including self-funding, an annual grant of £1,250, or an increased grant of £1,375 to reflect a 10% increase awarded to community councils. Clare Malster, the Community Co-ordinator, was involved in these discussions.

Action Tracker

An update on the working group's actions was scheduled for discussion. This included the ongoing process of electing a Vice Chair and considering whether community councillors could form part of the quorum. The action tracker also noted that work on example funding models based on a standard core grant plus an allowance per capita was to be presented for further discussion.

Other Business

The meeting also included a review of the minutes from the previous meeting held on 13 August 2026, and a discussion on insurance matters. The date for the next meeting was set for Thursday, 1 October 2026.