Chief Inspector Stuart Fletcher, Scottish Borders Local Area Commander.
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
The recent introduction of body cameras for police officers in the Borders can “significantly enhance public confidence”, a senior officer will inform councillors next week.
The go-ahead has been given for operational officers to wear Body Worn Video (BWV) in the region.
BWV is a small, wearable recording device, typically attached to a person’s uniform (like police or security), that captures high-quality audio and video of interactions and events from the wearer’s perspective, serving as an objective record for evidence, transparency, accountability, and officer safety, with footage securely stored and managed.
In a report to Scottish Borders Council’s Police, Fire & Rescue and Safer Communities Board, Chief Inspector Stuart Fletcher, Scottish Borders Local Area Commander, says: “BWV has the potential to significantly enhance public confidence and support officer and public safety, by providing effective and transparent evidence of police and public actions.
“It will also improve the quality of evidence presented in court to support criminal justice proceedings and deliver faster justice for victims and offenders, increasing early guilty pleas and reducing time spent at court.”
CI Fletcher also outlines Police Scotland’s ongoing work to improve and transform delivery of front-line policing with the creation of a Service Delivery Hub (SDH) in the Scottish Borders.
He says: “We recognise that considerable demand is placed on front-line officers in attending incidents and calls that do not require an immediate response and the SDH will operate to alleviate that pressure.
“In addition, the officers within the SDH will also take ownership of more protracted enquiries where consistency and management of risk are essential, such as missing person incidents and domestic offending.
“I am also delighted to report that Phase 1 of the work to refurbish Hawick Police Station will soon commence, again a vital way of improving working conditions for our officers and staff.
“I am keen that subsequent phases of work seek opportunities to share available space with partners and other community groups, making the station far more of a ‘community hub’.”
Members will also be informed about the recent appointment of the Borders new Deputy Local Area Commander, Inspector Rory Caverhill.
CI Fletcher said: “Rory brings significant policing experience to the role, much of which has been in the Scottish Borders.
“Born and raised in Galashiels, he has already proven to be a real asset to our team, and I know you will all appreciate his involvement in delivering policing across the area in the months to come.”
Edinburgh City Chamber
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Joe Sullivan
Funds from Edinburgh’s visitor levy will go towards new housing – though questions were raised at a council meeting about the legality of the plans.
Councillors approved a plan to use some of the money to provide around 472 homes, with more than 75% let out at social rents, at a Tuesday housing committee meeting.
But some members of the committee objected, with one asking if the council had fully explored legal risks around the plans.
The council’s top housing boss, meanwhile, celebrated the move – which could also see some new lower rent housing set aside for hospitality workers.
Part of the discussion around the plan was conducted in private, with the press and the public excluded, though the final decision to approve the plan was made in public.
Housing convener and Labour councillor Tim Pogson told the meeting at the start of the discussion that some of the proceedings were likely to be held in private.
A link on the agenda for the meeting said that some information about the report containing the plan was restricted from public view.
Prior to the committee entering private business, Conservative councillor Marie Clair-Munro asked about the legality of the proposal.
She said: “Business groups and legal experts have said using it for housing may not be what the law intended.
“I’m hoping officers can clearly confirm that using the visitor levy funds to support housing is fully compliant with the visitor levy legislation, and explain what legal risks the council is taking if this is potentially to be challenged.”
Alex Blyth, senior housing development officer at the council, replied that an answer to the question would need to be given in private.
After the public were allowed back into the room, councillors agreed to support the plans, though the two Conservative councillors did not.
Councillor Graeme Bruce said: “While we all want to find more funding for housing, whether that’s social or mid market rent, we feel the approach the council are wanting to take here risks a potential legal challenge.
“The 2024 Visitor Levy Act requires this fund to be used to support or sustain facilities for persons visiting a scheme area.
“In our opinion, any funding generated should be used directly related to the act. We feel the approach the council is wanting to take is too risky, and we cannot support that direction of travel.”
Labour councillor and housing convener Tim Pogson said: “If the visitor economy cannot access those individuals who work in the sector, then there would be no sector.”
He added that he saw the plan as an opportunity to support housing need in the city, as well as enhance the capital’s visitor economy.
New housing has increased East Lothian's population in recent years like this development at the new town of Blindwells
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Marie Sharp
Fears East Lothian residents could end up paying higher council tax bills while Government funding for public services is cut are set to be raised by councillors.
East Lothian Council officers have raised concerns that a national review of council tax banding will put a ‘disproportionate’ number of home owners in the county into the higher brackets.
And they say the Scottish Government’s plan to make the council tax revenue neutral could mean that funding for the local authority will be cut further penalising the area.
A public consultation has been launched nationally on government proposals to change the current band system used to determine household council tax bills with options including creating a new 14 tier of costs to cover updated property values.
Its consultation document argues the current banding system is outdated because it is based on the value of houses in 1991 and needs to be updated to reflect the current housing market.
However it acknowledges there has been a vast difference across the country in the increased values of homes with East Lothian seeing the biggest rise in value – at 500 per cent, well above the national average of 357 per cent and the increase in Edinburgh which is estimated at 448 per cent.
In a draft response to a consultation on proposals to reform council tax nationally, officers say the approach put forward by the Scottish Government will undermine the principles of council tax.
They will urge elected members to back a call for the council leader to write to the Cabinet Secretary for finance and local government highlighting concerns about the impact of new tax bands on the county.
They say: “It is likely that East Lothian would see a reduction in the funding it receives from Scottish Government while our residents see their council tax bills increasing if these proposals were implemented.
“This undermines the principle of council tax as a local tax, with residents able see the link between the tax they pay and the quality of local services.
“East Lothian is already significantly disadvantaged through the current distribution of grant funding to local government, with one of the lowest levels of funding per capita in Scotland, resulting in significant increases in council tax charges being necessary in recent years.
“While the council supports the objective to achieve a more up to date, progressive and proportionate system for council tax, it does not feel appropriate for changes to be considered in isolation from the broader local government funding system.”
Councillors will be asked to approve the draft response to the consultation on council tax reforms at a meeting next week as well as direct the council leader to write to the minister.
