The Selkirk Common Good Fund Sub Committee met on Thursday 04 June 2026, approving a £2,000 grant for the Selkirk Silver Band and agreeing to defer a decision on a tree at Rosebank Drive pending further clarification. The committee also reviewed the fund's financial monitoring report and draft budget for the upcoming year.

Financial Monitoring Report and Draft Budget

Catriona Ewen presented the monitoring report for the Selkirk Common Good Fund for the year ending 31 March 2026, alongside the draft budget for 2026/27. The report indicated a deficit of £63,268 at the end of March 2026, which was better than the forecasted deficit of £80,263. This improvement was attributed to one-off grant income received for works at Buxton Bridge and from Scottish Water for temporary occupancy at Selkirk Common Farm.

The draft budget for 2026/27 anticipates a deficit of approximately £67,000, with projections showing a reduction in the deficit over the following two years before moving into a surplus by 2028/29. However, these forecasts do not yet include the significant demolition works required for Lingley Farm. A key recommendation agreed by the committee was to request officers to provide a medium to long-term forecast that includes these Lingley Farm costs once they are fully costed.

Councillor Leagh Douglas expressed encouragement regarding the year-end position being better than forecast but cautioned against over-optimism due to the non-recurring nature of some income and the significant unknown costs associated with Lingley Farm. Councillor Douglas fully supported the recommendation to bring forward a more comprehensive financial forecast.

The report also highlighted that the investment portfolio was valued at £258,899, with an unrealised loss of £648, a significant improvement from the previous year's loss of £20,366. The investment income for the year yielded a return of 5.34%, exceeding the target of 5%.

The committee noted the report and agreed to the draft budget for 2026/27. They also requested the medium to long-term forecast including Lingley Farm costs.

Application for Financial Assistance: Selkirk Silver Band

The committee considered an application from the Selkirk Silver Band for £2,000 towards the cost of attending the National Brass Band Championship of Great Britain in York in September 2026. The band, having recently been crowned Scottish Champions in the 3rd section, earned promotion to the 2nd section and an invitation to compete at the national level.

Councillor Thornton-Nicol, Chair of the meeting, expressed strong support for the application, highlighting the band's significant contribution to Selkirk's community life, including their participation in the Common Riding, civic events, and remembrance services. Councillor Douglas echoed this sentiment, describing the band as woven into the fabric at Selkirk for years and commending their focus on developing the next generation of musicians.

The total estimated cost for the band to attend the championships was £9,000, covering accommodation, transport, entry fees, and other associated expenses. The band had already organised various fundraising events and sought the £2,000 from the Common Good Fund as a contribution towards these costs.

Community Councillor I King endorsed the positive comments about the band but raised a point of clarification regarding the wording in the application form, stating that Scottish Borders Council (SBC) acts as a manager or trustee of the Common Good Funds, not the owner. This point was noted for legal review.

The committee unanimously agreed to grant the £2,000 to the Selkirk Silver Band.

Tree at Rosebank Drive, Selkirk

A report detailing a Tree Condition Survey and Risk Assessment for trees on land at Sentry Knowe, Selkirk, was presented. Steven Headley, from TD Tree & Land Services, explained that the survey found the trees to be in fair physiological condition with no immediate indications of significant structural instability. The report noted that the trees were not subject to any statutory protections, such as a Tree Preservation Order or Conservation Area designation.

The proposal from nearby neighbours was to allow the tree to be removed, or more specifically, coppiced. Coppicing involves cutting the tree to the ground to allow it to regrow, typically on a 15-20 year rotation.

Councillor Thornton-Nicol expressed a personal aversion to cutting down trees unnecessarily and suggested leaving the tree as is and placing it on a five-year inspection plan. However, Councillor Douglas argued for a more pragmatic approach in response to the neighbours' concerns, noting their willingness to pay for the removal. Councillor Douglas also highlighted the importance of consulting other neighbours who might be impacted.

A significant point of discussion arose when Councillor Douglas questioned whether the correct trees had been assessed, pointing out that the report seemed to focus on a copse of trees in the middle of the area rather than the tree causing concern, which was located near property lines. Mr Headley confirmed he would investigate this discrepancy.

Given the uncertainty regarding the location of the tree in question, the committee agreed to defer any decision on this item until a check could be undertaken to ensure the correct tree was being assessed. Community Councillor I King also spoke, advocating for the retention of specimen trees in urban areas where possible, while acknowledging the need to balance this with safety concerns.

Land Use Request: Victoria Park

The committee considered a routine annual request from T. Hiscoe & Sons funfair to operate at Victoria Park, Selkirk, from 8 to 15 June 2026. There were no objections raised, and the committee agreed to approve the request.

Other Items

Catriona Ewen noted a minor error in paragraph 1.3 of her report, where the deficit figure for 31 March 2026 was stated as £67,000 instead of the correct £63,000, as detailed in paragraph 4.1. She offered to submit a corrected version of the report. The committee acknowledged this verbal correction.

The meeting then moved to private business.