The Annandale and Eskdale Area Committee are scheduled to discuss a range of topics, including a performance report from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, directorate performance reporting, a regional parking strategy, community engagement, tackling poverty, housing investment in Langholm, outside bodies, land disposal, and street naming.

Tackling Poverty and Inequalities Fund

The committee are to discuss allocations from the Annandale and Eskdale Area Committee Tackling Poverty and Inequalities Fund for 2025/26. There is £42,426 available, and members will consider the recommendations of the Scoring Panel, detailed in AE Appendix 2 - Tackling Poverty and Inequalities F.pdf, and agree on awards.

The priorities, eligibility and criteria for the fund are outlined in TPI - Appendix.

Regional Parking Strategy

The committee are scheduled to discuss and agree the final Regional Parking Strategy (RPS) – Delivery Plan for Annandale and Eskdale, as detailed in the RPS Delivery Plan-AE_Final Report 24 September 20251. The draft Delivery Plan was presented to the Area Committee on 28 May 2025.

The report pack states that the council awarded a Parking Commission to Systra Limited in March 2023, to provide advisory services in the production of a new RPS. Systra were awarded a further contract in November 2024 to prepare bespoke Delivery Plans for the region.

The committee will also note the progress of the Decriminalised Parking Enforcement (DPE) application for parking enforcement. The final DPE application was submitted to Transport Scotland on 5 June 2025, with a target programme date for commencement of parking enforcement in Spring 2026.

The report pack notes that in addition to DPE, the council plan to introduce enforcement of parking restrictions associated with the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019, which includes pavement parking¹, double parking and parking at dropped kerbs.

The Enforcement Regulations, the secondary legislation associated with the Act, came into force on 11 December 2023, following Parliamentary approval. Since this date local authorities are able to enforce against the types of parking banned by the Act. This will require resourcing (recruitment), equipment and back-office management beyond levels currently held by the Council. Therefore, resources and technology required to support with enforcement of the Act will also be shared with that of DPE. Also, the new Parking Places Order 2025 will also require Council Parking Officers to enable and control parking restrictions within Council carparks listed in the Order.

Development of the Regional Parking Strategy – Delivery Plan (Annandale and Eskdale) - Report by Interim Assistant Director Transport and Infrastructure

Directorate Area Performance Reporting

The Annandale and Eskdale Area Committee are scheduled to consider and agree a small number of success measures and projects from each of the directorates, to be scrutinised in depth and reported on a six monthly basis.

The directorates include:

• Education, Skills and Community Wellbeing, as detailed in 2025 09 AEAC ECS Area Performance Reporting - Final and ESCW Directorate - Success Measures and Projects - Appendix.
• Social Work Services, as detailed in SWS Area Performance Reporting - AE Report and Appendix 1 - SWS Directorate - Success Measures and Projects.
• Enabling and Customer Services, as detailed in 2025 09 Area Committee Appendix - ECS Directorate - Success Measures and Projects.
• Economy and Infrastructure, as detailed in Annandale Eskdale Area Committee EI Performance Reporting - Covering Report 3 and Appendix 1 - EI Directorate - Success Measures and Projects 5.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Performance Report

The committee will scrutinise the performance report for Annandale and Eskdale from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) for the period 1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025. The SFRS - report reminds members of the seven priority areas contained in the Dumfries and Galloway SFRS Local Plan:

• Domestic Fire Safety
• Unintentional Harm and Injury
• Road Safety
• Deliberate Fire Setting
• Non-Domestic Fire Safety
• Unwanted Fire Alarms Signals
• Operational Resilience and Preparedness

The scrutiny report for 2024-25 is presented in SFRS - Appendix A, with the special service breakdown detailed in SFRS - Appendix B, and SFRS - Appendix C provides an additional brief overview of Annandale and Eskdale activities during the reporting period.

Community Engagement Programme

The committee will consider a community engagement programme for Annandale and Eskdale Area Committee in 2025/26, as detailed in 24.09.25 AEAC Community Engagement Report update.

The report pack notes that at a meeting on 27 March 2025, the Full Council agreed to increase engagement with key community stakeholders, with Community Councils, community groups funded by the council and citizens being identified as possible groups.

The committee are asked to agree a proposed programme of 3 or 4 in-person community engagement sessions for the year ahead, and agree stakeholders, area of work or topics for the sessions.

Strategic Housing Investment Plan - Langholm

The committee will note an update regarding the Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) project at Murtholm Farm, Langholm, and community led housing proposals within Langholm, as detailed in Strategic Housing Investment Plan - Langholm - final report.

The report pack notes that on 18 October 2023, all elected members were advised of challenges being experienced by Loreburn Housing Association (LHA) with regard to new development, and that they were temporarily pausing new development to focus on improving the energy efficiency of existing properties. A communication from the LHA Chief Executive is attached as Appendix - LHA Investment Update to Elected Members - October 2023 1.

Outside Bodies

The committee will confirm whether any amendments to the appointment of elected members to outside bodies are required, as detailed in Outside Bodies AE Final Report.

The outside bodies include:

• A7 Action Group
• Chapelcross Site Stakeholder Group
• Eskdale Foundation
• George Hunter Trust
• Lockerbie and Syracuse University Scholarship Trust
• Lockerbie Trust
• Samuel Elliot Bequest
• Dumfriesshire Educational Trust
• Proudfoot Endowment

Land Disposal

The committee will note that land at Newington Road, Annan, extending to 27.38 square metres, has been declared surplus to council requirements, and that the Community Council and Groups listed in the report have been consulted regarding potential community interest, as detailed in Final - Disposal Land at Newington Road Annan - Report. The location plan is attached as Appendix - Location Plan Newington Rd Annan.

The committee will also note that land at Riggfoot Cottages, Waterbeck, DG11 3HA, extending to 480 square metres, is surplus to council requirements, and that the Community Council listed in the report has been consulted regarding potential community interest, as detailed in FINAL Disposal of Land Riggfoot Cottages Waterbeck. The location plan is attached as Appendix - Location Plan Riggfoot Cottages Waterbeck.

Street Naming

The committee will agree 'Rosebank Gardens' as the preferred name for the new road associated with the development at Rosebank House, Glasgow Road, Gretna, as detailed in Road Network Management Street Naming Report Rosebank House Glasgow Road Gretna.