Councillors have agreed a package of proposals which will deliver a significant scale of change at Live Borders and its sport, leisure and cultural services and facilities.
Amendments to the recommendations were made and accepted during the meeting. A final list of the agreed recommendations will be published in due course.
A Microsoft Teams recording of the meeting is available to view online.
Ambitious programme
The ambitious multi-year programme of action minimises facility closures and will enable Live Borders to become financially sustainable through the delivery of growth and additional income, with in principle support for significant one-off investment into key facilities. This will also help Live Borders, which has charity status to become much more efficient and bring in increased revenue.
Significant support will be provided to explore opportunities for community ownership and the operation of valued local facilities which can help to secure external funding and their long-term futures. In parallel, every effort will be made to reduce ongoing operating deficits through increased usage and income and new operating/management models in local facilities as well as increasing community control.
Councillor Euan Jardine, Council Leader
“This is the start of a new journey for our sport, leisure and cultural services and facilities. It is a roadmap where we are focused on the future, on delivering improved services in fewer, but better, facilities.
“The input of the public has been at the core of the development of this plan of action, recognising how valued and important services are within our communities and how we must focus every effort on addressing as many other areas of change and the opportunities available, rather than closing swathes of buildings.
“But the plan also acknowledges the continued risk we face of heavily constrained public sector funding to the long-term future of facilities at the heart of our communities. It sets out how over the coming years we can work, alongside communities and partners, to explore where community ownership could secure a much brighter future.
“We know that this may not be an easy journey, but I believe that we’ve found the right route, which balances the need for change and savings, backs a positive vision for the future and supports our communities.”
Bill Douglas, Chair of Live Borders’ Board of Trustees
“The past months have been worrying for Live Borders staff, just as they have been for our communities. I hope that, following the Council’s decision, everyone sees that the future is positive and that there is real vision, commitment and drive for Live Borders to make a difference to the lives of residents.
“Colleagues throughout the organisation are the lifeblood of our services to Borderers and visitors, and I want to pay tribute to them for their continued support and endeavours.
“Many of the services we deliver on behalf of the Council are not income generating so there will always be a need for public funding to subsidise the delivery of sport, leisure and culture services. Moving forward, I believe everyone can be more confident about what that money is delivering and what the return on one-off investment in key facilities will be.
“I would reiterate though that all sport, leisure, cultural and community facilities require the support of customers and service users. Dwindling usage and increased costs cannot be sustained.
“With the Council’s support, we will play our part by improving and expanding our services and investing wisely in a smaller property estate. Please play your part and use your libraries, your pools and leisure centres, visit your museums and attractions. As a charity, every pound spent with us is reinvested into what we deliver for the Scottish Borders, which you’ve just told us is really important to you.”
Recognition for Tourette's campaigner
During the meeting, Council Leader Euan Jardine suggested that the Langlee Community Centre is renamed the John Davidson Centre, in recognition of the John Davidson MBE, the long-standing caretaker at the community centre and Tourette Syndrome campaigner.