The Economy and Infrastructure Committee of Dumfries and Galloway Council met on 2 September 2025 to discuss budget monitoring reports, the capital investment programme, and various strategic plans and updates. Also on the agenda were community asset transfers, the disposal of surplus properties, and a discussion on road safety. Finally, the committee was expected to consider appointments to outside bodies.

Business Support and Visitor Levy

The committee was scheduled to consider a report on business support and a potential visitor levy.

As part of this, the committee was asked to consider the recommendations of the EKOS Ltd report into Business Gateway services in Dumfries and Galloway. The Business Support and Visitor Levy report noted that the council currently delivers the Business Gateway service in-house, and the committee was asked to agree to continue with this arrangement.

The committee was also scheduled to discuss a potential visitor levy scheme for Dumfries and Galloway, and to agree on an approach and timeline for early engagement on the scheme. The Business Support and Visitor Levy report stated that a further report on the outcome of the early engagement would be presented in spring 2026.

Industrial Portfolio and Borderlands Business Infrastructure Programme

The committee was scheduled to discuss the Industrial Portfolio and Borderlands Business Infrastructure Programme.

The Industrial Portfolio and Borderlands report noted the findings of the council's Rural Industrial Estate Programme Business Case, and the committee was asked to agree that activity continues.

The committee was also asked to agree to submit a change control request to the Borderlands Partnership Board to introduce a council-owned site at Lockerbie as part of the Borderlands Infrastructure Programme within the Dumfries and Galloway region. A further change control request to the Borderlands Partnership Board was scheduled, to introduce a new site in Heathhall, Dumfries, which could be developed in partnership with South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) ¹.

Finally, the committee was asked to agree for officers to commence identifying potential development sites in the areas of Stewartry and Wigtownshire if significant progress is not made in advancing the Annan site within the next quarter, along with exploring emerging opportunities for investment through Local Place Planning.

Capital Investment Programme

The committee was scheduled to discuss the Capital Investment Programme Report for Quarter 1 (1 April to 30 June 2025).

The committee was asked to agree to the updated 2025/26 to 2027/28 Capital Programme, which reflects the current expenditure projections and slippage/acceleration from 2024/25. They were also asked to agree to the updated asset class budgets for the same period, which have been updated to reflect the current expenditure projections and slippage/acceleration from 2024/25.

The Capital Investment Programme report noted that the overall 2025/26 capital programme is expected to spend in line with the updated budget of £79.3 million.

The committee was also asked to note the progress of Gateway Review projects.

An allocation of up to £123,307 from the 2025/26 Community Led Economic Regeneration Fund budget was scheduled, to enable Annan and District Day Centre to undertake work and continue project development to the equivalent of RIBA Stage 4 ².

The committee was also asked to agree that officers may negotiate and accept the grant offer of £710,000 from Scottish Government through the Place Based Investment Programme ³ to support development work associated with the Town Centre Living and Dick's Hill Wellbeing Hub projects identified in the Creating Stranraer Place Plan.

Strategic Housing Investment Plan Annual Review

The committee was scheduled to discuss the Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) Annual Review for 2025.

The Strategic Housing Investment Plan report asked the committee to note the position regarding Resource Planning Assumptions allocated to this region from the Scottish Government's Affordable Housing Supply Programme.

The committee was also asked to agree to the inclusion of the proposed sites in the SHIP following submission to the council by Wheatley Homes South (WHS) ⁴.

Kirkcudbright Bridge Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on Kirkcudbright Bridge.

The Kirkcudbright Bridge report asked the committee to note the positive steps taken to realise the reopening of the bridge to cars and small vans to a maximum of 3 Tonne.

The committee was also asked to note the update on the position on site post re-opening of the bridge, and the proposed next steps in the long term for Kirkcudbright Bridge.

The committee was asked to agree that work should continue to progress to seek indicative costs and timescales for a new bridge within the current approved Public Realm Structures Capital Programme 2025/26.

Finally, the committee was asked to agree that if Kirkcudbright bridge is agreed as a Strategic Project by Dumfries and Galloway Council in October 2025, future updates regarding Kirkcudbright Bridge will be included as part of future Capital Investment reports presented to this committee.

Community Asset Transfers

The committee was scheduled to discuss two community asset transfers (CATs):

• 45-7 George Street, Whithorn, Newton Stewart, DG8 8NS
• The Old Town Hall, 79 Victoria Street, Newton Stewart, DG8 6NL

Revenue Budget Monitoring

The committee was scheduled to discuss two revenue budget monitoring reports:

• Economy and Infrastructure - Revenue Budget Monitoring Report 2024/25 - For the period ended 31 March 2025
• Economy and Infrastructure - Revenue Budget Monitoring Report 2025/26 - For the period ended 30 June 2025 (Quarter 1)

School Meals Food Sustainability Plan

The committee was scheduled to discuss the School Meals Food Sustainability Plan - Naturally Dumfries and Galloway.

The School Meals Plan report asked the committee to note the plan, ongoing work with suppliers to further develop products, and the school meals performance.

Disposal of Industrial Units at Woodlea Road, Blackparks Industrial Estate, Stranraer

The committee was scheduled to discuss the disposal of industrial units at Woodlea Road, Blackparks Industrial Estate, Stranraer.

The Disposal of Units at Woodlea Road report asked the committee to note that the Service (Property, Estates and Programmes), who is responsible for the asset, has identified that the Economy and Infrastructure Directorate no longer has a requirement for the asset.

The committee was also asked to note the five Policy Intent Themes contained within the council's Disposal and Acquisitions Policy ⁵, the background, history, and current position regarding the properties, and to review the benefits and dis-benefits to the council of selling the units.

Finally, the committee was asked to agree that the industrial units and associated land are surplus to requirements of the Economy and Infrastructure Directorate and should now progress through the disposal process as timeously as possible.

Surplus Property - 81-85 Irish Street, Dumfries

The committee was scheduled to discuss the disposal of surplus property at 81-85 Irish Street, Dumfries.

The Surplus Property report asked the committee to note that the Service (Property, Estates and Programmes), who is responsible for the asset, has identified that the Economy and Infrastructure Directorate no longer has a requirement for the asset.

The committee was also asked to note the five Policy Intent Themes contained within the council's Disposal and Acquisitions Policy, the background, history, and current position regarding the asset, and to review the benefits and dis-benefits to the council of selling the property.

Finally, the committee was asked to agree that the asset is surplus to requirements of the Economy and Infrastructure Directorate and should now progress as expeditiously as possible through the disposal process.

Dumfries and Galloway Road Safety Update

The committee was scheduled to receive a Dumfries and Galloway Road Safety Update.

The Road Safety Report noted that the request for this update was received by the Proper Officer ⁶ under the terms of Standing Order 16.2 from Councillor John Campbell and Councillor Tony Berretti, Vice Chair Economy and Infrastructure Committee.

The committee was asked to note the roles, responsibilities, and contribution of Dumfries and Galloway Council to road safety, the current procedure used for Public Realm Capital 'Road Safety' Programme, including the Accident Investigation and Prevention programme, and the aims and updates of Scotland's 'Road Safety Framework to 2030'.

The committee was also asked to agree to the integration of community-raised road safety concerns into the future Accident Investment and Prevention programme, and to note the road safety funding available through Transport Scotland to help deliver the commitments in the 'Road Safety Framework to 2030'.

Resourcing Requirements for the Development of Transport

The committee was scheduled to discuss the resourcing requirements for the development of transport.

The Development of Transport report asked the committee to agree to support the required investment to enable the progression of actions agreed by Full Council to develop transport across the region, and to recommend to the Enabling and Customer Services Committee on 16 September 2025 that funding of up to £250,000 be allocated to support this requirement.

Environment Team - SCAMP Project Award Grants

The committee was scheduled to discuss the Environment Team - Solway Coast and Marine Project (SCAMP) ⁷ Project Award Grants.

The SCAMP Projects report asked the committee to note the breakdown of external funding allocations to key stakeholders to support the wider development phase of the project, and to agree the funding allocations.

Outside Bodies

The committee was scheduled to make appointments to a number of outside bodies, and to consider whether the Economic Leadership Group should be removed from the council's Scheme of Representation on Outside Bodies.

The outside bodies that were scheduled for discussion were:

• Glasgow Prestwick Airport Consultative Committee
• South West Scotland Community Rail Partnership
• West Coast Rail 250
• Scottish Councils' Committee on Radioactive Substances
• A75/A77 Lobbying Action Group
• Industrial Communities Alliance
• Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Partnership Board
• Outdoor Access Forum
• Solway Firth Partnership
• Southern Uplands Partnership
• Supplier Development Co. Ltd
• Community Led Local Development Fund-Local Action Group
• North Channel Partnership
• Dumfries and Galloway Sustainable Food Partnership

Update on Food Law Audit and Community Protection Capacity Issues

The committee was scheduled to consider the contents of a report on the Update on Food Law Audit and Community Protection Capacity Issues.