The Scottish Borders Licensing Board scheduled a meeting to take place on 19 September 2025. The agenda included considering the Chief Constable's annual report, and applications for both a new premises licence and a variation of an existing premises licence, both under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005¹.

Chief Constable's Report

The board were scheduled to consider the content of the Chief Constable's Annual Report, which was provided for their information.

Chief Superintendent Gregg Banks, the Divisional Police Commander, has overall responsibility for day-to-day policing functions. Chief Inspector Stuart Fletcher, the Local Area Commander, is responsible for performance management, community engagement, partnership working and the daily management of local personnel. PC Scott Dishington was scheduled to attend the meeting.

The report noted that the area of the Scottish Borders Council serves a population of 116,900 people. As of March 2025, there were 433 premises licensed to sell alcohol, a decrease of 39 premises from the previous reporting year.

The report also included the local policing priorities:

• Protecting the most Vulnerable People
• Reducing Violence & Antisocial Behavior
• Reducing Acquisitive Crime
• Improving Road Safety
• Tackling Serious and Organized Crime

According to the report, Police Scotland carried out 295 recorded inspections of licensed premises in the Scottish Borders during the reporting year.

The report detailed the intervention process used when issues arise at licensed premises. Issues are assessed using a well-established intervention process, and incidents connected to premises are identified by licensing officers who evaluate the Licensing Objectives to determine if any have been compromised.

The intervention process has three stages:

• Green – Monitored
• Amber – Intervention
• Red - Problematic

Over the last calendar year there was one premises classed as 'Monitored.' During the reporting year there were no problematic premises in the Scottish Borders.

The report also included a summary of applications and offences. During the year 2024/2025 the following applications were received and processed by the Police Licensing Team:

A total of 1167 crimes of violence were recorded within the Scottish Borders area for the period from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025. This represents a decrease of 78 crimes (-6.3%) from the 2023-24 levels of violence. Of the 1167 recorded crimes of violence for the 2024-25 period, a total of 202 (17.3%) had the alcohol marker attached to the crime report, which is a reduction of 84 from the previous year.

A total of 4724 incidents relating to ASB² have been recorded during 2024-25 within the Scottish Borders area. This represents a decrease of 229 incidents (4.6%) from 2023-24, and a reduction of 168 incidents (3.4%) from 2022-23.

The report also included a table of licensing offences recorded during the recorded period:

Premises Licence Applications

The board were scheduled to consider an application for a provisional premises licence, and an application for a variation of premises licence, both under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005. Applicants were cited to attend the meeting.

Dicksons of Ednam

RPC (Hotels) Limited applied for a provisional premises licence for Dicksons of Ednam, located at 13 Bridge Street, Kelso, TD5 7HT.

The proposed business activity was described as:

The premises are a semi-detached ground floor building at the entrance gates to Ednam House Hotel in Kelso town centre. There are two residential flats above the premises used as staff accommodation. The premises consist of a seated lounge bar area, kitchen, toilets and basement storage. The premises are a bistro style bard serving light meals and tapas dishes.

The hours applied for were:

• ON SALE 11.00am to 12.00midnight – Mon to Sun
• OFF SALE 11.00am to 10.00pm - Mon to Sun

According to the report pack, no representations had been received from Police Scotland, the Licensing Standards Enforcement Officer, or Health.

Co-op Highcroft

The Co-operative Group Food Limited applied for a variation of their premises licence for Co-op Highcroft in Kelso, TD5 7NB.

The proposed variation was to amend question 5(f) of the operating plan to read:

The sale of food, non-food items and other household goods and the provision of ancillary consumer services within and outwith licensed hours. Home deliveries may be provided to customers. Alcohol will only be delivered in terms of and in compliance with the relevant provisions of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.

According to the report pack, no representations had been received from Police Scotland, the Licensing Standards Officer, or Health.

Licences dealt with under Delegated Powers

The board were scheduled to note a list of licences dealt with under delegated powers between 8 August 2025 and 8 September 2025. These included occasional licences³ for:

• Galashiels Cricket Club
• Hawick Lodge No 111
• Kelso Cricket Club
• Portzim Limited at Lilliardsedge Holiday Park
• St John Masonic Hall
• Tempest Brewing Co Ltd at Tweedside Park
• P West Linton Bowling Club
• Allan Walker at Nether Horsbrugh
• Andrew Dempster at Duns Motocross
• Bernadette Giefer at War Memorial Hall, Oxton
• Callum Peoples at The Gateway Building, Galashiels
• Catherine Maxwell Stuart at Traquair House
• Cecilia Benson at Neidpath Castle
• Charlotte Heard at Imocharre, Eastcote, Hawick and The Borders Distillery
• Daniel Dominguez at Neidpath Castle, Peebles
• David Blair at Ark Hall, Whitsome
• Dean Mark at Harbour, Eyemouth
• Douglas McKechnie at Kippielaw House, Melrose
• Findlay Donaldson at Victoria Halls, Selkirk
• P Floraidh Law at Neidpath Castle, Peebles
• Heather Lees at Walkerburn RFC
• James Bolland at Memorial Hall, Innerleithen and Volunteer Hall, Galashiels
• James Henderson at Border Events Centre, Kelso and The Haugh, Town Yetholm
• Jordin Bolton at Volunteer Hall, Duns
• Joyce Adamson at Victoria Halls, Selkirk, Ormiston Institute, Melrose and Public Park, Galashiels
• Laurence Fordyce at Blinkbonny, Sorbietrees, Newcastleton
• Leslie Mallin at Community Centre, Langlee and Parish Church Hall, Selkirk
• Lindsay Wood at Volunteer Hall, Duns
• Mark Stevens at MacArts, Galashiels
• Michael Mackenzie at Neidpath Castle, Peebles
• Nazier Hussain at Volunteer Hall, Galashiels
• Neil Adamson at Primary School, West Linton, Market Square, Galashiels, High Street, Peebles and Main Street, Newstead
• Peter Allan at Race Course, Kelso
• Rebecca Graham at Walled Garden, Barns Estate, Kirkton Manor
• Ryan Garrie at Marmion Road, Galashiels
• Samantha Wylie at The Moor, Hawick
• Sara-Louise Paterson at Village Hall, Cockburnspath
• Shaun Turnbull at Legends Function Room, Newcastleton
• Stephen McKenzie at Haylodge Park, Peebles
• Susannah Nixon at Thirlestane Castle, Lauder
• Tara Grey at Community Sports Field, Gordon
• Yvonne Mark at Paxton House, Paxton
• Currie Memorial Hall
• Ex Braw Lads And Lasses at Volunteer Hall, Galashiels
• Gavinton Village Hall
• Haining Charitable Trust at Haining House, Selkirk
• HAOS Musical Theatre Company at Evergreen Hall, Hawick
• P Hawick United AFC at Auld Baths, Hawick
• Heiton Village Hall Committee
• Kelso Folk Festival at Old Parish Church, Kelso
• Lodge Kelso And Tweed No.58 at Masonic Hall, Kelso and Tait Hall, Kelso
• Macfie Hall Committee at Macfie Hall, Heriot
• Melrose Music Festival at Corn Exchange, Melrose
• Newstead Village Community Trust at Village Hall, Newstead
• Peebles High School PTA at High School, Peebles
• Peebles Highland Games Association at Hay Lodge Park, Peebles
• Preston And Abbey Community Trust at Village Hall, Abbey St Bathans
• St Peters Primary School Parent Council at St Peters Primary School, Galashiels
• St Ronans Bowling Club at Bowling Club, Innerleithen
• The Borders Ball Committee at Victoria Halls, Selkirk
• Upper Kalewater Show And Sports Committee at Laidlaw Memorial Hall, Bonchester Bridge
• William Laidlaw Village Hall at Laidlaw Memorial Hall, Bonchester Bridge
• P Yetholm Community Council at Wauchope Hall, Town Yetholm

Previous Minutes

The board were also scheduled to approve the minute of the meeting held on 22 August 2025.