A series of recommendations are to be discussed by Councillors next week following the completion of a joint review of sport, leisure and cultural services and facilities in the Scottish Borders.
The joint review report and proposed recommendations are built upon the feedback of more than 6,500 people, engagement with staff, trustees and Councillors at Live Borders and ourselves and an assessment of the current services and facilities.
The focus of the joint review was on the quality, quantity, accessibility, affordability and ongoing sustainability of our sport, leisure and cultural services and facilities.
Constructive discussions
Whilst a number of the 26 recommendations from the consultants engaged to support the joint review are being put forward for agreement, a number have been varied or expanded following constructive discussions between ourselves and Live Borders.
Councillor Euan Jardine, Leader of Scottish Borders Council
“I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to provide their input to the joint review, through the online surveys and the various engagement events.
“The report provides the Council and Live Borders with a clear direction of travel and identifies some further transformational work that is required, within the two organisations but also with our communities.
“It is clear the status quo in terms of services, facilities and funding is not sustainable. We must work together to grasp some nettles and also seize the opportunities that exist to ensure that our sport, leisure and cultural services and facilities can be improved, that we support the health and wellbeing of our residents and put ourselves on a sustainable footing for the next decade and beyond.
“Following the completion of the review and the presentation of the consultants’ recommendations internally, we’ve had very positive discussions and I believe the consolidated set of recommendations being put to Council for agreement will enable us to move forward together.”
Joint Review driven by various factors
The review was driven by a number of key factors, including decreasing public funding, changing needs and aspirations of communities, inflation and increasing energy costs.
Alison Moore, Chair of Live Borders
“The joint review and the feedback from the Borders community has reiterated just how valued our services are within the local area. While we recognise that the Report highlighted a number of areas for further consideration and improvement, some of these were already known to us and work is already underway to resolve them.
“For me the clearest message of all is that we must concentrate on the services we offer and ensure that the property estate from which we deliver our services is fit for the future and sustainable.
“By doing that that we can focus on delivering excellent services, generate more income and deliver on our own objectives and those set for us by the Council.
“I have no doubt that by Live Borders and the Council working together and through our committed, experienced and knowledgeable staff we can ensure that the charity and our relationship with the Council and Borderers can be healthier, happier and stronger.”
Valued services
Live Borders and ourselves, in partnership, are responsible for delivering a broad range of valued culture, sport and leisure and community services across the area.
Live Borders currently operates services from a total of 30 sport and leisure facilities, including six swimming pools, and 23 cultural facilities, including libraries and museums, in addition to providing 10 community centres and 12 town halls.
Challenging times
The review comes at a time of unprecedented financial pressures on all services in the region as well as across the entire leisure sector, a changing picture of service usage post pandemic, high inflation, vastly increased energy costs and the need to work towards Net Zero targets.
An ageing property estate which is becoming increasingly costly to maintain is also affecting service delivery and finances. Many of the Council-owned facilities are requiring significant investment or replacement if they are to continue to operate.
About Live Borders
Live Borders is the leisure, sport, and cultural trust for the Scottish Borders. Live Borders is a charity. At the heart of Live Borders is a commitment to making its communities healthier, happier and stronger. Every penny spent in its venues is reinvested into supporting active, creative, and healthy communities in the Scottish Borders.
The Live Borders trust arrangements were originally established in 2003 with the formation of Borders Sports and Leisure Trust. The services delivered have been expanded over the years, including the addition of cultural and various community services in 2016 when Live Borders was set up.
Community sports provision at a number of new high school campuses and the addition of the Great Tapestry of Scotland Visitor Centre in 2020 have also been added to the scope of Live Borders services in recent years.