Common Good Consultation 2022
Feedback updated 21 Sep 2022
We asked
We asked for your comments on what we might be missing from the Council's Common Good register.
You said
You gave us some useful information about the history of some of our local land and collections, some of which had not been considered by the Council before.
We did
We took your comments and investigated those areas of land and pieces of art or collections to ascertain whether they should properly be categorised as Common Good. We then discussed those findings with each Common Good Fund Sub-Committee and prepared final registers for each town. Following Council approval, these registers will be published on the Council’s website where they can be viewed.
Results updated 21 Sep 2022
The consultation on the Common Good register for the Scottish Borders ran from 21 December 2021 to 31 March 2022.
62 online responses were received, together with 3 by email. These included responses from individuals, Community Councils and other community groups.
Officers from SBC's legal, estates and finance departments considered the consultation comments, and where contact details were provided, responded to each one.
The attached documents show the consultation comments together with SBC's response to those comments. Please note that no comments were received for Lauder.
Next steps
Each Common Good Sub-Committee has now considered the consultation comments and responses, and the suggested final Common Good register. The register will now go to Council for approval , following which, it will be published on the Council's website.
Overview
This consultation seeks your views on the Common Good registers for the former Burghs of the Scottish Borders.
All former Burghs have a 'Common Good' which comprises the land, buildings, art, artefacts and funds which were owned and managed by the Burgh Council on behalf of the residents of the Burgh. The Burgh system was extinguished in 1975 but the assets owned by the Burgh at that date continue to be owned by the Common Good, which is administered by Councillors who sit as Common Good Trustees.
Following an investigation of the assets held by Scottish Borders Council, we have prepared a draft asset register for each former Burgh. We have considered title deeds (for land and buildings), museum records and old Burgh minutes. Where an asset was donated to the town, prior to 1975; where it was purchased from Common Good funds; or where it has historically been used by the people of the town as a public asset , we have determined that the asset should form part of the Common Good.
However, we are seeking your views on whether you think any additional assets should be included on these registers, and if so, why. You may also have further information on the assets noted. Or you may think that an item on the register is not Common Good.
Once the survey closes, we will publish all representations received. We will then consider the evidence available and determine, at a meeting of each Common Good Sub-Committee, whether any assets should be added to the register (or removed). We will then publish our response to the representations received, and the final register within 6 months of the closing of this consultation.
Please note that if any additional information comes to light after the publishing of the final register, the register can be amended to include newly identified assets.
What happens next
All consultation comments will be considered at a meeting of each Common Good Sub-Committee which will take place in Spring/Summer 2022. The committee will decide then whether any assets should be added to the register (or removed). We will then publish the final register within 6 months of the closing of this consultation.
Please note that if any additional information comes to light after the publishing of the final register, the register can be amended to include newly identified assets.
Areas
- All Areas
Audiences
- Anyone from any background
Interests
- Common Good
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