The Jedburgh Common Good Sub-Committee met on Monday 15th September 2025 to review the fund's financial position, consider a proposed budget, and review action items. The meeting was scheduled to include a review of the monitoring report for the 12 months to 31 March 2025, as well as a proposed budget for 2025/26. Councillors were also expected to review the minutes from previous meetings and an action tracker.

Financial Monitoring and Budget

The sub-committee was scheduled to consider the monitoring report for the 12 months to 31 March 2025 and the proposed budget for 2025/26. According to the report by the Director of Finance, the fund had a surplus of £159,201 as of 31 March 2025, which was higher than the forecasted surplus of £87,591.

The report outlined the following recommendations for the sub-committee:

(a) Notes the actual income and expenditure for 2024/25 and forecast income and expenditure for 2026/27and 2027/28 within Appendix 1;

(b) Agrees the proposed budget for 2025/26 as summarised in Appendix 1;

(c) Notes the summary of the property expenditure and net expenditure by property in Appendices 2 and 3;

(d) Notes the current position of the Aegon Asset Management Investment Fund in Appendix 4.

The report also provided details on property expenditure, grants, and the investment fund managed by Aegon Asset Management. It noted that the investment fund had an unrealised loss of £71,175 as of 31 March 2025, due to a fall in equity markets.

UN Sustainable Development Goals and Climate Change Implications

The sub-committee was also scheduled to consider the impact of its activities on the UN Sustainable Development Goals. A checklist included in the report pack indicated that the sub-committee's activities could have positive impacts on goals related to economic growth, infrastructure, and sustainable communities.

Additionally, the sub-committee was expected to assess the climate change implications of its proposals, considering factors such as energy use, transport, waste, and infrastructure. The checklist included questions to identify opportunities for mitigating and enhancing the activities in terms of climate change impacts.

Minutes and Action Tracker

The sub-committee was scheduled to review and approve the minutes from the meetings held on 30 June 2025 and 26 May 2025.

The minutes from the 30 June 2025 meeting, included in the report pack, detail the approval of an £8,000 grant to the Jedforest Instrumental Band to support their participation in the British Championship at Cheltenham in September 2025. According to the minutes, Mr David Lightbody, representing the band, was present at the meeting to answer questions.

The minutes from the 26 May 2025 meeting, included in the report pack, detail the approval of a £7,000 grant to the Jethart Callant's Festival for the 2025 festival.

The sub-committee was also expected to review the action tracker, which listed outstanding actions from previous meetings. This included a request for grant evaluation forms from Jedburgh Rotary regarding the Birl and Beer Festival, and the Jedburgh and District Twinning Association regarding their 30th anniversary celebrations.