The Executive Committee of Scottish Borders Council met on Tuesday 10 March 2026 to approve capital programme allocations, discuss estates rationalisation, and endorse procurement strategies. Key decisions included the approval of the 2026/27 capital programme breakdown, noting progress on estates rationalisation and decarbonisation, and approving the corporate procurement strategy for the upcoming year. The committee also reviewed the Q3 2025/26 performance report and endorsed Borderlands Town Investment Plans for Hawick, Galashiels, and Jedburgh.

Capital Programme 2026/27 – Block Allocations

The committee approved the proposed breakdown of individual projects and programmes within the various block allocations for the 2026/27 capital investment plan. This detailed expenditure plan, outlined in Appendix 1¹ (Appendices A-N), allows work to commence as required by the Council's financial regulations. Councillor Elaine Thornton-Nicol² described the new approach as a much better solution than previous block allocation systems, focusing on need and being proactive rather than reactive. Councillor Scott Hamilton³ sought clarity on Appendix 1C regarding solar photovoltaic panel installations, which was confirmed to be a combination of retrofitting and new installations. Councillor Julie Pirone⁴ welcomed the clarity provided by the report, stating that it allows the public to see exactly where the capital block grant is being spent.

Estates Rationalisation, Optimisation & Decarbonisation Progress Report No. 2

The committee noted the progress made on the Rationalisation, Optimisation and Decarbonisation (ROD) programme, now in its second year. Ray Cherry, Chief Officer Estates⁵, presented the report, highlighting the strengthening of data insights through an asset dashboard, which integrates condition, suitability, operating costs, and energy data. Councillor Jenny Linehan⁶, speaking on behalf of Councillor Simon Manford⁷, welcomed the report but noted that progress had been limited by a lack of capital budget, urging for further financial support in the 27/28 budget. Councillor Carol Hamilton⁸ inquired about external funding or subsidies, to which Mr Cherry responded that the programme is entirely SBC funded, though external funding sources like the Salix Fund are being explored for decarbonisation efforts. Councillor Viv Thomson⁹ raised questions about Eddleston Primary School and the School Brae toilets in Peebles regarding community asset transfers and potential sales. Mr Cherry confirmed that if a school closure proceeds, the community asset transfer process would be expedited, and that surplus assets are looked at for disposal. Councillor Ewan Robson¹⁰ expressed interest in the depot rationalisation, emphasizing the need to consider future workloads. Councillor Scott Hamilton¹¹ requested more detail on the financial savings achieved through the programme, which Mr Cherry acknowledged is an area of ongoing development. Councillor Fay Sinclair¹² sought reassurance that the 10% estate reduction target does not apply specifically to schools, which was confirmed by Mr Cherry, clarifying it refers to the entire estate.

Corporate Procurement Strategy 2026/27

The committee approved the Corporate Procurement Strategy for 2026/27 for publication and submission to the Scottish Government. Suzy Douglas¹³, Director of Finance, presented the report, highlighting that the strategy aligns with the Council Plan and statutory guidance. Councillor Scott Hamilton¹⁴ expressed strong support for the strategy's emphasis on using local services and infrastructure, benefiting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Borders. Councillor Fay Sinclair¹⁵ inquired about the extent of ethical procurement and balancing ethical considerations with other criteria, particularly concerning global companies. Ms Douglas explained that procurement legislation covers a range of requirements, and the strategy aims to comply with these. The committee also discussed the impact of the recently passed Community Wealth Building legislation in Holyrood, with Ms Douglas confirming that work is underway to embed this approach within the Borders.

Scottish Borders Council's Quarter 3 2025/26 Performance Report

The committee noted the Q3 2025/26 performance report, which shows progress against Council Plan milestones and indicators. Jason MacDonald¹⁶ provided an overview, stating that out of 92 indicators, 56 are in a good position, with 17 highlighted for improvement. Councillor Jenny Linehan¹⁷, speaking on behalf of Councillor Lee Douglas¹⁸, shared positive progress in areas including education attainment, clean energy initiatives, economic development, vibrant communities, and council effectiveness. Specific achievements mentioned included an increase in S4 attainment, improvements in energy efficiency schemes saving households money, progress on the Hawick Flood Protection Scheme, and a significant event impact from the Tour of Britain Women's Race. Councillor Carol Hamilton¹⁹ inquired about the winter leavers programme and its availability in Berwickshire, which Mr MacDonald committed to investigating. Councillor Viv Thomson²⁰ congratulated the council on its modern apprenticeship programme and praised the work on delayed discharges, calling it transformational. She also questioned the process of selecting Servitor as the preferred option for replacing the job-costing system without prior confirmation of its capabilities, which was clarified as a conceptual validation followed by detailed testing.

Borderlands Place Programme – Hawick, Galashiels and Jedburgh Borderlands Town Investment Plans

The committee approved the Borderlands Town Investment Plans (BTIPs) for Hawick, Galashiels, and Jedburgh, and granted delegated authority to the Director of Resilient Communities to approve individual project business cases. Jenni Craig²¹, Director of Resilient Communities, introduced the report, highlighting that the Place Programme directs £7.2 million of capital funding from the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal to four priority towns. Alex Fleming-Knox²², Senior Economic Development Officer, presented the BTIPs, outlining the proposed projects for each town.

For Hawick, the approved projects are:

• The Arches Arts & Creative Hub: Refurbishment of the Old Wilton Primary School into a centre for arts, education, and social connection (£778,500 Borderlands funding).
• Hawick Mair: Redevelopment of facilities at St Leonard's Park to support an events programme (£655,500 Borderlands funding).
• Hawick Visitor Signage: A comprehensive overhaul of town signage and digital engagement (£366,000 Borderlands funding).

For Galashiels, the approved projects are:

• Redevelopment of 34-36 Channel Street: Creating commercial units and affordable residential accommodation (£750,000 Borderlands funding).
• MacArts Redevelopment: Improvements to the roof, energy efficiency, and accessibility (£300,000 Borderlands funding).
• Hike & Bike Bunkhouse: Expansion of existing bike hire and tours to include visitor accommodation (£444,000 Borderlands funding).
• Galashiels Community Trails: Development of multi-use trails at Ladhope Recreation Ground (£306,000 Borderlands funding).

For Jedburgh, the approved projects are:

• Community Contact Hub: Repurposing the former VisitScotland iCentre into a multi-functional facility (£250,000 Borderlands funding).
• Events Quarter/Town Hall Redevelopment: Transforming the Town Hall and surrounding public realm for year-round events (£1,348,000 Borderlands funding).
• Jedburgh Swimming Pool: Restoration and reopening of the Laidlaw Memorial Pool (£202,000 Borderlands funding).

Councillor Scott Hamilton²³ praised the community-led nature of the projects, emphasizing that they were determined by the public rather than the council. Councillor Carol Hamilton²⁴ expressed excitement about the projects and sought to discuss IMS²⁵ with Ms Fleming-Knox. Councillor Fay Sinclair²⁶ noted the buzz around the Galashiels projects and highlighted that the process had opened doors for further projects beyond the initial BTIP scope. She also sought reassurance that additional funding for trail phases would not come from council pots. Ms Fleming-Knox confirmed that external options were being explored for match funding gaps. Councillor Euan Jardine²⁷ (Leader) commended the communities driving these initiatives forward, particularly the volunteers.