Ron Smith

Five of Hawick’s councillors sat down on Wednesday 2^nd July to consider their response to the news from Pringle of the proposed shutdown of manufacturing. They each reacted with dismay and expressed concern for the impact on the affected workers and their families but also felt that the news was just the next step in a long history of contraction in the company.

After extended discussion, the team of councillors, in association with Bryan McGrath of SBC’s Planning & Economic Development staff, had prepared an action plan which lays out their points of concern as well as areas where they are demanding supportive action from Scottish Borders Council and from Scottish Government.

1. Assurances are sought from Pringle that Head Office and Design functions will remain in the town.

2. The councillors stressed their intention that the Glebe Mill site should remain zoned as employment land in the future.

3. They emphasised the need to make additional employment land available, whether brownfield or greenfield, and that additional financial resources would be required to deliver this.

4. They agreed that the redevelopment of Commercial Road should be accelerated, with appropriate land transactions completed, development briefs agreed and planning applications lodged.

5. The councillors felt that further investment in infrastructure was critical, and look for work being brought forward on Borders railway, the A7, broadband etc., and on the investigation of biofuel and other energy projects: all of which aimed at making the Borders more competitive.

6. They demanded that Government consider locating Government jobs in the town, particularly for any new agency being set up.

7. Within the textile sector, and to support remaining businesses, they seek to develop new marketing approaches, building on the success of the cashmere Club – targeting export markets. They also look to Higher and Further Education institutions to work with local industry to provide required skills for the workforce and to help spin-off businesses.

8. They finally stated their wish to be part of the Government’s Small Towns Support Initiative which supports the regeneration of small towns, and focuses particularly on town centre investment.

This discussion, and the ensuing Action Plan, was all preparation for the five councillors – Zandra Elliot, Stuart Marshall, Davie Paterson, Ron Smith, and George Turnbull – to meet later on Wednesday afternoon with Cabinet Secretary for Finance John Swinney, who was accompanied by Christine Graham MSP and John Lamont MSP. David Hume, Chief Executive of SBC, and two Union representatives were also present.

Councillors opened by stressing the ongoing history of job losses in Hawick and in the surrounding area, and invited Mr Swinney to comment on the position. The Minister stated there were three aspects to consider: could closure of Pringle manufacturing be resisted, could the affected workers be absorbed elsewhere in the industry, and could a wider programme of support for employment in the area be developed? The first was not thought to be feasible. The second aspect would be explored through Union and SBC / SEB support teams. Cllr. Marshall and the Union representatives examined these points in detailed questioning with the Minister.

Mr Swinney began looking at the wider picture by emphasising that it was not beneficial to have an overheating Edinburgh economy while the remainder of Scotland was in ‘the deep freeze’’. He said that steps had to be taken to support the remaining companies in the textile sector, through skills development, access to support services, and through cooperation within the Textile Forum. It was also necessary to encourage other employers to move into the Borders, for example through the reshaping of programmes for capital investment, and through SEB initiatives, and he mentioned that the recent reduction in small business rates should help. Cllr. Smith commented that the threshold for businesses to benefit from this scheme was set too low and should be reviewed, and Mr Swinney and Ms Graham accepted that the scheme would be revisited.

Mr Hume pointed out the potential for innovative development work, combining textile technology with that in other Borders industries, and the Minister responded that the Government did indeed want to give local authorities incentives to take innovative action on business development.

In considering the points raised on the councillors’ Action Plan, he stated that the Scottish Biomass Scheme might allow the Government to make a contribution if this was pursued, and that he hoped to work with the Scottish Public Pensions Agency at Tweedbank to extend the range of work being covered, bringing potential for more employment there. He also emphasised the importance of the college infrastructure.

Cllr. Turnbull, in the chair, thanked the Minister for his visit, which Cllr. Paterson had helped to arrange. Cllr. Elliot then obtained a commitment from Mr Swinney to return in a few months time to consider progress. In conclusion, Mr Swinney said he had wanted to come for a first hand view, that he had a list of actions to take away. Proper support was required for those affected, other textile companies should be supported through the Textile Forum, and developments in other sectors of the local economy also required support.