With over 1,000 online survey responses received, details have been published today of further opportunities for people to have their say on the future of Live Borders services and facilities.
The upcoming community engagement and consultation activities being undertaken jointly by Live Borders and ourselves will capture feedback and ideas from the public, service users and other key stakeholders.
Range of events planned
They include public drop-in events, youth engagement activities and invite-only focus group sessions with key community stakeholders, such as community councils, town teams, user groups and community centre management committees.
Details of all public events can be found on the project's Consultation and engagement plan webpage, where there is also a link to the ongoing online survey.
The survey gives everyone the opportunity to comment on more than 30 different facilities/services across the Borders. To date, 1,012 responses have been received, with the survey open until 31 August.
In addition to the event details published today, pop-up information stands in high footfall locations are also being planned and the engagement team will be at the Border Union Show at the end of July to capture views and signpost people to further opportunities to get involved. Comment cards are also available in all Live Borders venues to enable customers to provide feedback.
Councillor Euan Jardine, Council Leader
“I want to reiterate that no decisions have been taken on any service or facility. Our extensive consultation and engagement activities need to conclude before any proposals are developed, and that won’t be until later this summer.
“When those proposals are worked up, they will be shaped by the input provided by stakeholders and communities and take account of the impacts identified for the full range of options that exist for each service and facility. That is why it is so important that people take at least one of the opportunities available over the coming months to have their say.
“The independent consultants Integratis provided us with individual options for consideration, and whilst they will certainly shape some of the discussions we have in communities, we recognise that they are not a holistic plan of action. The proposals we develop, and which will be considered by Elected Members in the autumn, will undoubtedly be different in many cases to those put forward by Integratis, having been directly influenced by our communities.”
Changes required
The need for operational and service delivery changes is driven by demographic changes and shifts in community needs, which have resulted in declining user numbers at some facilities. In addition, aging, energy-inefficient facilities and increasing costs require the properties services operate from to be considered too.
Changes to service delivery and properties will ensure that Live Borders can continue to deliver high quality services in a sustainable way within the budget available.
Bill Douglas, Chair of Live Borders’ Board of Trustees
“Over recent years, Live Borders has needed significant additional funding from the Council, over and above the annual management fee, to maintain services and facilities as they are – to effectively stand still.
“The current situation of services delivered from the current property estate is not sustainable and prevents both Live Borders and the Council from making more significant investments into improving our valued services and facilities. That is why changes have to be identified.
“Just as our communities are at the heart of what we do, they have to be central to shaping the future, so please take up the opportunities to give us your feedback and suggestions through the engagement process over the summer.
“As an organisation, we are doing all we can to become more efficient and reduce our costs in other ways, as well as increasing our income from commercial activities and grants and other funding. However, the reality is that a significant proportion of our operating costs are associated with our facilities.”