Consultation and engagement plan
Surveys
Our online survey closed on 31 August 2025. A total of 1914 responses were received.
Responses to our Easy Read version of the survey closed on 12 September.
Public events
All previously scheduled open public events have now taken place.
Invite-only focus groups are now taking place with relevant community groups and organisations. These are not open to the public but will involve roundtable discussions with various community stakeholders, including, for example, community council, town team, development trust, community centre management committee.
Youth engagement activities
A range of methods are being used to capture the input of young people.
This has included events in communities, a dedicated survey, engagement through school settings and targeted activities with youth groups.
More about our engagement plan
Following the publication of the Borders Sporting and Cultural Estate Review by Integratis, a series of community engagement activities will take place through until September 2025.
These are a vital opportunity for individuals, groups, and communities to have their say on the future of local sport, leisure, and cultural service and facilities. We understand that these facilities and the services delivered from them are deeply valued, and it is essential that community voices are heard and reflected in any future proposals.
No decisions have been made. The consultants’ report presents a range of individual facility options for consideration - it is not a list of actions to be taken forward in full. Not all options will be progressed, and community feedback will play a significant role in shaping the recommendations to be put to Full Council in due course.
It is important to note that financial savings are a key driver and must be achieved to ensure the long-term sustainability and success of Live Borders.
Purpose of engagement
The primary aim of this engagement is to inform and involve communities in the future of local facilities and services. This includes:
- Capturing how facilities are currently used, community priorities, and local insight to shape well-informed, balanced decisions
- Providing accessible information on the rationale behind the consultants’ recommendations
- Ensuring that engagement focuses on the facilities identified in the proposals, rather than the report in isolation
- Helping develop a set of clear, evidence-based proposals to be brought back to Full Council in late Autumn 2025 for formal decision-making.
This process has been designed to ensure legal, statutory, and equalities obligations are met, and that engagement is both meaningful and inclusive, building on - rather than duplicating -previous engagement work.
No future service or facility proposals will be developed until the consultation and engagement activities are complete, therefore the timing of events should not cause concern. There is also time available to re-engage with key stakeholders if the need arises.
Ongoing communication and support
Together with Live Borders we are committed to transparent and open communication throughout this process.
In addition to wider community engagement, we are also engaging directly with:
- Staff who may be affected by potential changes to venues or services
- Key stakeholders and partners, including the third sector and other relevant organisations
These discussions will ensure that all voices are heard, and that the impact on individuals, services, and communities is fully understood.
Communities will also be supported to explore alternative proposals or Community Asset Transfer opportunities where appropriate, with clear guidance and all necessary information provided to support this.
Progressing proposals
Following the engagement period we will begin a vast piece of analysis to review all the feedback received to ensure that every voice is captured and considered.
This analysis work will take place alongside the development of the final proposals which will bring together all research, public feedback, and other relevant considerations to develop comprehensive and well-informed proposals that will shape the recommended outcomes. We will share what we heard and how your feedback has informed our approach.