The Kirkcudbright Common Good Fund Sub Committee met on Wednesday 17 September 2025 to discuss financial assistance, a lease assignation and rent reduction request, and the disposal of land. The meeting was scheduled to take place in Council Chambers, Kirkcudbright. Councillor John Denerley, Dee and Glenkens was scheduled to chair the meeting.

Disposal of Land at Low Boreland

The sub committee was scheduled to consider a report regarding the potential disposal of 1260 square metres of land at Low Boreland, Kirkcudbright which has been declared surplus to council requirements.

The report noted that ownership of the land derives from the 1633 Charter of Confirmation by Charles the First in favour of the Provost, Magistrates and Councillors of the Royal Burgh of Dumfries and is therefore Common Good.

The sub committee was asked to note that Kirkcudbright Community Council, Kirkcudbright Development Trust, and Kirkcudbright Forum had been consulted about potential community interest in the land. Members were to advise if there were any other community groups that officers should consult.

The report stated that the council had received a request from the owner of Low Boreland (house) to buy extra garden ground. The owner had requested the larger of the two areas mentioned in the valuation report of 1260 sq m, but would proceed with the smaller area of 660 sq m if the larger request was refused.

The sub committee was asked to agree to instruct officers to publish the details of the proposed disposal of Common Good land in line with the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015¹.

The sub committee was also asked to note the valuations as stated in Appendix 2 of the report.

Kirkcudbright Golf Club Lease

The sub committee was scheduled to discuss a report regarding the assignation of the lease of Common Good Land from the Kirkcudbright Golf Club to the newly formed Kirkcudbright Community Golf Club (SCIO) ², and a request to consider a temporary reduction in the rent associated with the lease.

The report noted that Kirkcudbright Golf Club had a 50-year land lease from 1 July 2005 for land at Kirkcudbright that is owned by Dumfries and Galloway Council and that forms part of the Kirkcudbright Common Good. The rental associated with the lease was set at £3,500 per annum, allocated to the Kirkcudbright Common Good Fund.

In February 2025 the Kirkcudbright Golf Club amended its governance structure from one of a 'Club' to a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO), officially known as Kirkcudbright Community Golf Club.

The report stated that in April 2025, the SCIO approached the council requesting that the annual rental associated with the lease be reduced or removed.

The sub committee was asked to consider the following options for the future rental associated with the lease:

• Continue with the rent set at £3,500 per annum as per the terms of the current lease.
• Temporarily reduce the annual rent to £500 per annum with rent reviews every 5 years.
• Reduce the annual rent on a permanent basis to £1 per annum if requested.

The sub committee was asked to agree to the assignation of the lease to the newly formed Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO).

Applications for Financial Assistance

The sub committee was scheduled to consider a report regarding applications for financial assistance from the Kirkcudbright Common Good Fund.

The report noted that the estimated free income for 2025/26 was £25,365. It also noted the agreed grant criteria for funding as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report.

Two applications for funding had been received:

• Resonate: Creative Communities, applying for £10,000 towards the design and planning stage and associated costs for the Former Kirkcudbright Police Station Development. The funding would contribute towards the architect, structural engineer, quantity surveyor and licences and planning fees. > Funding will help ensure that the former police station stays in the public domain and not sold off privately, so that it can still be used to benefit the community of Kirkcudbright and surrounding area.
• Kirkcudbright Cornet Club, applying for £1,500 towards the purchase of sashes, medals, road closures, first aiders, numnahs ³ and lanyards, wreath and pipers for Kirkcudbright Riding of the Marches. The report noted that this application was submitted on 11 July 2025 for an event which took place week beginning 14 July 2025, and was therefore retrospective.

The sub committee was asked to consider and agree awards to the applicants.