On 4^th July Ron was one of a delegation of council representatives from both sides of the Scottish border who were joined by the Bishop of Carlisle for a meeting in London with ITV’s regional director Michael Jermey, director of public affairs Nigel Warner, regional director of Tyne Tees and Border Graeme Thompson, and executive director of ITV Border Paddy Merrall.

All parties agreed that the meeting was a constructive one and gave an opportunity to clarify the reasons for ITV’s proposed changes and their potential impact on the region. Tim Stoddard, Leader of Cumbria County Council, said:
“Lookaround is one of the most valued and well-loved of any of ITV’s regional news programmes. The depth of support for its local coverage is proved time and time again in both the audience viewing figures and our own surveys of local people. Losing Lookaround would have a major impact on the identity of the region. Today’s meeting has helped quantify some of the economic and social effects of the proposed ITV changes and has also been an extremely useful guide to the rationale behind the proposed regulatory changes. We have agreed to meet again with ITV so that we can prepare a fully-informed response once the next stage of Ofcom’s consultation begins in September.”

Ron felt this was a useful meeting. It gave an opportunity for these councils to come together making common cause to protect their own regional news programme. The plans envisage a 6 minute opt out at 6.05 pm from the Gateshead originated news programme. This opt out would cover the whole of South of Scotland, while Cumbria would have their own opt out at this point. The group were promised that any major story for the area – i.e. of wider regional interest - would be covered in the remaining 24 minutes of the programme. Similarly there would be a 9 minute news programme for each area at the close of the national 10.00 pm news. The success or failure of the proposal would be measured by local residents in Teviotdale or Liddesdale by the amount of news coverage of Newcastle or Middlesborough for example, which would be of little interest within the Borders.

While the greater scheme of amalgamation of Border and Tyne Tees seems to be established (led by cost savings), Ron, who was accompanied by Douglas Scott from SBC’s Chief Executive’s office, believes that the points for pushing are

• an increase in the opt out allocation from 6 to 15 minutes (as this will include both Borders and Dumfries & Galloway

• the retention of a news-gathering facility in the Borders are, responding to local events

• a commitment by the amalgamated company to producing feature programmes of Borders interest, such as in the Reivers series.

Further meetings will be taking place.

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.