The William Hill Trust Sub-Committee of Scottish Borders Council is scheduled to meet on Tuesday 16 June 2026. The meeting's agenda includes a review of the Trust's financial performance and budget, as well as a significant funding application from the Trimontium Trust.

Monitoring Report and Draft Budget

The sub-committee is set to consider the Monitoring Report for the 12 months ending 31 March 2026 and the Draft Budget for 2026-27. This report, prepared by the Director of Finance, Suzy Douglas, provides details of the income and expenditure for the William Hill Trust Fund for the past financial year and outlines projected income and expenditure for the next three years. The report indicates a surplus balance of £80,267 on 31 March 2026, against a forecasted surplus of £97,619. It also details grants distributed, totalling £31,788 in the year to 31 March 2026, which was £13,160 over the budgeted amount. The report notes that the Aegon Asset Management Investment Fund had a value of £212,397 at 31 March 2026, with an investment income of £11,349 received. The financial information is subject to external audit.

Application for Financial Assistance - Trimontium Trust

A key item on the agenda is the consideration of an application for financial assistance from the Trimontium Trust. The Trust is seeking £15,000 to support its project, Rediscovering Trimontium. The Trimontium Trust is a charity dedicated to educating the public about the Roman site of Trimontium and the Romans in Scotland. They operate a museum in Melrose and engage in outreach activities, including community archaeology.

The requested funding would be used to purchase and build a cabin at the Trimontium fort site. This cabin is intended to serve as a reception area for visitors, a muster point for guided walks, storage for learning materials, and an educational base for the construction of a replica Iron Age roundhouse. The Trust highlights that this project will bring economic benefits to Melrose through increased visitor numbers and slow tourism, and will also support local suppliers and accommodation providers. The application details that the cabin will be maintained by trustees, staff, and volunteers, with solar panels providing power. The Trimontium Trust has a history of receiving significant funding from various sources, including the National Lottery Heritage Fund and South of Scotland Enterprise.

The sub-committee members for this meeting are Councillor David Parker (Chair), Councillor Jenny Linehan, and Councillor John PatonDay. Enquiries regarding the meeting can be directed to William Mohieddeen.