Friday November 21st 2025
Scottish Borders Council headquarters
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
The leader of the Liberal Democrats on Scottish Borders Council has called for a planned shake-up of leisure, sports and cultural services to be delivered “with sensitivity and flexibility”.
SBC this week agreed a series of measures to plug a £2.2m shortfall in cultural provider Live Borders’ finances.
Consultants earlier recommendations to axe several facilities were rejected with a more nuanced approach of community asset transfers and changes to the operation of venues endorsed instead.
It was an approach approved by Lib Dem leader Euan Robson, but with some caveats.
He said: “At last we have a clear plan going forward. Instead of stumbling around in fog tripping over obstacles, the path is more clear from here onwards especially as it is coupled to a financial matrix showing how savings and better use of resources are to be achieved over the next five years. I cannot recall anything like this being presented to members in the past.
“We can ensure success if the council operates the plan with sensitivity and flexibility, recognising that change will not take place at a uniform speed across all parts of Live Borders.
“We are asking a lot of volunteers and much will depend on the quality of help and advice they are able to obtain from professional sources including council and Live Borders officers. For example, taking on staff is a considerable and onerous commitment. Communities may need limited support from the council’s revenue budget to facilitate change.”
Mr Robson, who represents Kelso & District, expressed particular anticipation on what impact the new approach could have on 900th anniversary celebrations for Kelso Abbey in just over two years time.
He said: “I do wish to stress that there are major opportunities in this plan to build income generation, to create sustainable provision through a variety of projects including as in just one situation, the creation of a Borders Abbeys Visitor facility in the Abbey Row Centre associated with the 900th Anniversary of Kelso Abbey in 2028.
“I would also emphasise that a major issue in the future will be access to capital funding. We need to get better at levering funding out of various sources. There is a question of equity here because only four towns have access to Borderlands funding, not all can obtain windfarm grants, some have no such opportunities so we need to maximise our efforts on for example the under developed cultural strand in the City Region deal.”
Councillor Robson welcomed the investment in the changing rooms in Kelso Swimming Pool which was “very desirable in such a heavily used facility”.
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