Here is a summary of the scheduled discussions for the Scottish Borders Council's Executive Committee meeting on 9 September 2025. The meeting was scheduled to cover economic development, community regeneration, and performance monitoring. A presentation on digital infrastructure was also expected from Mr Duncan Nisbet, Scottish Government, Broadband Delivery & Compliance Manager.

Digital Infrastructure Update

Mr Duncan Nisbet, Scottish Government, Broadband Delivery & Compliance Manager, was scheduled to give a 15 minute presentation on digital infrastructure.

Economic Development Update

The Executive Committee was scheduled to consider a report by the Director of Resilient Communities, providing an update on key areas of economic development in the Scottish Borders.

The report highlighted several initiatives:

• Employability: The council's Employability Service, comprising five teams, aims to reduce poverty and increase household income by supporting people into employment. The service follows the No One Left Behind (NOLB) approach¹ and assigns a key worker to each participant. In the first quarter of 2025/26, the service supported 114 new clients, helped 35 clients find new jobs, and facilitated work experience for 15 clients. The Local Employability Partnership (LEP), chaired by Scottish Borders Council, coordinates employability provision across various sectors.
• Events and Tourism: The report mentioned the Tour of Britain Women 2025, which started and finished in Kelso, and the return of the Tour O The Borders cycling event. The Scottish Borders were selected to host the World Sheep Dog Trials in September 2026. The STEAM (Scottish Tourism Economic Impact Modelling) data indicated a 6.4% growth in the visitor economy and a 2.2% increase in visitor numbers. Center Parcs has submitted a planning application for their first Scottish holiday village.
• Business Gateway: The Business Gateway service, in partnership with South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE), supported 59 start-up businesses and received 171 new client enquiries in the first quarter of 2025/26.
• Economic Investment Programmes: The Chambers Institution project in Peebles, funded through the Levelling Up Fund (LUF), is progressing, with works commencing on detailed design, planning, and Building Warrant submissions. The council allocated funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the Place Based Investment Fund to various community and business organisations.
• Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal: Work continues on several Borderlands programmes and projects, including the Mountain Bike Innovation Centre in Innerleithen, the Destination Tweed project, and the Business Infrastructure Programme. The Place Programme will direct £7.2m of capital funding to Eyemouth, Galashiels, Jedburgh and Hawick.
• Borders Railway Extension: Turner & Townsend was appointed as the senior project manager for the proposed extension of the Borders Railway from Tweedbank to Carlisle.
• Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal: The Borders Innovation Park in Tweedbank is addressing market failure in business accommodation, with Phase 2 construction planned for 2025-26.
• Active Travel and Transport: A new Draft Active Travel Strategy for the Scottish Borders is currently out for consultation, with the vision to make active travel the natural first choice for everyday journeys.
• Eyemouth Masterplan: The Eyemouth Harbour Masterplan proposes a £250 million investment in infrastructure to transform Eyemouth into a key hub for offshore wind, marine industries, and sustainable coastal growth.

The Executive Committee was asked to note the information provided and that future updates would be reported regularly.

Community Regeneration Partnership

The Executive Committee was scheduled to consider a report by the Director of Resilient Communities, providing an update on the UK Government's Community Regeneration Partnership (CRP).

The £20 million programme has progressed significantly since the last report to Council in April 2025. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in February 2025, and the business case was formally approved by UK Government, confirming the list of twenty-three projects.

These projects span the four key Borderlands towns, Eyemouth, Galashiels, Hawick, and Jedburgh, as well as other strategic locations across the Scottish Borders. All projects commenced on 1 April 2025 and must be financially committed by 31 March 2026.

Two Senior Economic Development Officers have been appointed, including one dedicated to managing the CRP programme. Officers are working closely with project leads and reporting quarterly to UK Government.

The full funding allocation of £20 million capital and £250,000 revenue was received in April 2025, and the first quarter report has been completed and signed off by UK Government.

The report included a table outlining the funding allocation across the programme:

Appendix A of the report provided a project update:

• Eyemouth: The Eyemouth Harbour Masterplan is under development, and the design and build of new business units is underway. Design and planning is underway for a new family centre.
• Hawick: A strategic site purchase is planned, and brownfield sites are being developed and upgraded. Safety and remedial works are planned for Burnfoot Housing, and Roxburgh & Berwickshire Citizens Advice Bureau will refurbish and upgrade working facilities.
• Jedburgh: Restoration and upgrading of the Bakery Building is planned, and the purchase and redevelopment of a deteriorating building at 3–5 Exchange Street is underway. A feasibility study and design for town centre improvements and public realm is also planned.
• Galashiels: Feasibility and design work is planned for a potential hotel site, and a new, wider footbridge to support active travel links is planned. Retrofit and regeneration of mixed tenure housing at Croft Street is also planned, and Central Borders Citizens Advice Bureau will receive office upgrades.
• Other Locations: A bunkhouse linked to the River Tweed Trail is planned for development at Crook Inn, and Neidpath Tunnel will be opened up as a key link in the River Tweed Trail. Full reinstatement of Haughhead Bridge in Innerleithen is planned, and digital display boards will be installed at key transport stops. Buses and coaches will be purchased to improve regional transport, and staffing support will be provided to improve transport services. Rural community buildings will be retrofitted and decarbonised, and a youth-led capital fund will be established for facilities across the region. Capacity support will be provided for communities, and new passenger waiting facilities will be installed at Borders General Hospital.

The Executive Committee was asked to note the progress made and agree that a further report be presented at the next Economic Development Executive Committee.

Scottish Borders Council's Quarter 1 2025/26 Performance Information

The Executive Committee was scheduled to consider a report presenting a summary of Scottish Borders Council's Quarter 1 2025/26 performance information.

The report included key milestones and performance indicators from the Council Plan. 7 new indicators were added in Quarter 1:

• Missed Collections (as reported by public) as a percentage of scheduled collections
• Total Number of Sold Properties
• Percentage of our workforce aged 16 to 29
• Percentage of our workforce who have told us that they have a disability
• Percentage of our workforce who have stated that they are LGBT
• Percentage of our workforce who are from an ethnic minority
• Percentage of our workforce who have completed equality monitoring data

The Neighbourhood Support Fund will now be reported to SBC on an annual basis in Quarter 3, and actions are now detailed for all Performance Indicators which have been given a Focus for Improvement Status.

There were 2 Key Milestones to be reported in Quarter 1:

• SBC have reviewed the conclusion and outcomes of the Edinburgh and South-East Scotland City-Region climate risk and opportunity assessment.
• Work has been undertaken to deliver the recommendations of the Accounts Commission's November 2024 'Best Value –Scottish Borders Councils report.

Of the 92 indicators presented this quarter, 58 are in a good position of which 8 are excellent, 15 are highlighted as areas of focus for improvement and there are 19 information only figures which provide context to some of the performance indicators also shown in the report.

The Executive Committee was asked to note the Quarter 1 2025/26 Council Plan Key Milestones and Performance Indicators Report.