The Peebles Common Good Fund Sub-Committee meeting scheduled for 10 June 2026 was set to cover a range of financial, property, and community-focused agenda items. Key discussions were anticipated regarding the fund's financial monitoring and budget for the upcoming year, alongside updates on various council properties and proposals for new community initiatives.

Financial Monitoring Report and Budget for 2026/27

The committee was scheduled to consider the Financial Monitoring Report for the period ending 31 March 2026 and the proposed budget for the financial year 2026/27. This report, prepared by the Director of Finance, Suzy Douglas, provided details of income and expenditure for the Peebles Common Good Fund. It included a summary of the fund's cash position, showing a surplus balance of £49,721 at 31 March 2026, an improvement on previous forecasts. The report also detailed rental income and property expenditure, the grants distributed in 2025/26, and the performance of the Aegon Asset Management Investment Fund. The Director of Finance recommended that the Sub-Committee note the financial information and agree to the proposed budget for 2026/27.

Property Update

A significant portion of the meeting was allocated to a property update, covering maintenance spend since the previous meeting on 25 February 2026. Specific sites scheduled for discussion included:

• Kingsmeadows Toilets: The report pack indicated that options for the future of these facilities were to be considered, with estimated costs for demolition and clearance, partial demolition and reinstatement, or complete demolition and rebuild. The previous meeting's minutes noted that the Common Good Fund would be responsible for annual running costs, as Scottish Borders Council now covers the cost of opening the East Station Car Park toilets. Councillor Julie Pirone had agreed to support an application to the Festival Grants Fund for additional toilet facilities.
• Victoria Park Boundary Wall Reinstatement: This item was listed for discussion, with previous action tracker notes indicating that details of the boundary wall repairs were to be brought to this meeting.
• Tweed Green Pavilion Gates: The agenda indicated that an update on the gates for the Tweed Green Pavilion was scheduled.

Estates Update

The Estates Update was set to include discussions on two key areas:

• Eliots Park Car Parking: The report pack did not provide specific details on what was scheduled to be discussed regarding car parking at Eliots Park.
• Haylodge Park Changing Facilities Proposal: A proposal for new changing facilities at Haylodge Park was to be considered. An email from Aegir, dated 28 May 2026, outlined a concept to replace the existing Chicken Hut with a facility constructed from shipping containers, designed to be used by the whole community and meet sporting facility standards. This project also aimed to provide employability skills for local young people, with potential involvement from Borders College and the Borders Training and Technical Association.

Peebles Gutterbluids Society Memorial Garden Proposal

The committee was scheduled to consider a proposal from Mr Drew Fraser, on behalf of the Peebles Gutterbluids Society, for a 'Derek Scott Memorial Garden' in Haylodge Park. The proposal, detailed in a document from the society, suggested a mini-arboretum-type garden featuring a mix of low-grown, native, and non-native ornamental plants requiring little maintenance. The society, which has a constitution focused on maintaining and improving amenities in and around Peebles, had received a legacy from Derek Scott that would fund this project. If approved, the society also wished to install a discreet memorial plaque in Mr Scott's memory. The garden was proposed for planting during the winter of 2026.

Tour o' the Borders Event

A request to use Tweed Green for the Tour o' the Borders Cycle Event, scheduled for 4-6 September 2026, was on the agenda. The application form indicated that Sarah Birks of Hillside Outside Ltd was requesting the booking for Tweed Green, Peebles, from 4 to 6 September 2026, expecting approximately 2,500 attendees. A health and safety risk assessment for the event was included in the report pack, detailing measures to manage risks such as tent collapse, tripping hazards, electrical safety, and emergency evacuation procedures. The event's insurance certificate from Event Insurance Services Ltd was also provided, showing Public Liability cover of £10,000,000, extended to cover up to 2,500 people for the Tour o' the Borders event.

Open Forum

The meeting included an Open Forum, which was scheduled to cover matters raised via the Peebles Common Good Forum and any other business.

The meeting also included standard procedural items such as apologies for absence, order of business, and declarations of interest. A significant portion of the agenda, from item 13 onwards, was designated for Private Business, which would be considered with the public excluded from the meeting. This private session was to include a private minute and action tracker, property maintenance quotes, and an estates update on the Corn Exchange retail premises and Haylodge Depot.