The Community Planning Strategic Board of Scottish Borders Council met on Thursday 04 June 2026 to discuss a range of important issues, including updates on child poverty, locality plans, and partnership progress. The meeting also covered the Children and Young People's Services Plan and the forward planner for future meetings.

Theme 1: Poverty

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to Theme 1: Poverty. This included an update on child poverty, with a covering report and the Integrated Children's Annual Progress Report for 2025-26. The report detailed progress made in addressing child poverty and its impact on young people.

Locality Plans Update

An update on the Locality Plans was presented, covering progress in specific areas across the Scottish Borders. The report detailed engagement and delivery activities in Burnfoot, Bannerfield, and Langlee.

• Burnfoot: Updates included efforts to reduce anti-social behaviour, increase access to activities, reduce poverty, improve access to work, learning, and training, enhance the maintenance of public areas, and improve health and wellbeing for residents. Specific actions mentioned involved community projects, youth work, and health initiatives.
• Bannerfield: The Bannerfield Locality Plan 2026-2031 was presented, outlining the vision for the area and detailing community strengths and challenges. Priorities identified included community safety and wellbeing, travel, community activities and engagement, reducing poverty, and environmental quality and pride of place. The plan highlighted concerns about drugs, anti-social behaviour, limited public transport, and the cost of living.
• Langlee: Progress on the Langlee Locality Plan was also discussed, with community consultation underway to shape the plan.

Community Plan Delivery Groups Progress Reports

The Board received written updates from various Community Plan Delivery Groups. These included reports on Theme 2: Learning, Skills & Economy, Theme 3: Good Health & Wellbeing, and Theme 4: Place, Community & Connectivity.

Quarterly Partnership Update

Updates were provided from several key partnerships:

• Children & Young People's Planning Partnership (CYPPP): A written update was presented, highlighting progress on the Integrated Children's Plan 2026-2029 and the annual report for 2025-26. The report detailed work on a range of priorities, including a good childhood, whole family support, planning and building capacity, and supporting the workforce. A key decision was to endorse the Children & Young People's Services Plan 2026-2029 for submission to the Scottish Government. The Board also agreed to approve the content of the Children's Rights Report and its role in meeting statutory duties.
• Community Justice Partnership: A written update was provided on the Scottish Borders Community Justice Local Outcomes Improvement Plan 2024-2029. This included progress on delivering improved community justice outcomes, supporting desistence from offending, and ensuring restorative justice is available.
• CLD Strategic Partnership: A written update was presented on the Scottish Borders CLD Strategic Partnership Plan 2024-27, outlining priorities such as increasing accreditation offers, developing pathways for community engagement, and improving accessibility of learning and digital inclusion.

Forward Planner for Future Meetings

The Board reviewed the forward planner for upcoming meetings, noting that the focus of the next meeting would be Theme 1: Poverty.

Any Other Business

A final draft charter to formalise relationships between Place Directors, the Scottish Government, and the Community Planning Partnership was discussed. The Delivery Board was tasked with developing a recommendation for the Community Planning Partnership to endorse, and Councillor Caroline Cochrane was delegated to submit the response to the Scottish Government.