Health board to out-source £6.7 million aseptic production

by EWAN LAMB

NHS Borders has given notice that it intends to seek an alternate supplier for cancer treatment products after a proposed link-up with neighbouring Lothian's aseptic unit fell through, and the existing facilities at Borders General Hospital were deemed "not fit for purpose". 

The Borders health authority this week published a so-called Prior Information Notice (PIN) notifying potential suppliers of a contract with an estimated value of £6.7 million to supply aseptically prepared medicines to treat patients attending the region's main hospital.

According to the notice: "The Authority will be seeking bids from suppliers to replace our own internal aseptic unit capacity. The bid must provide a wide range of treatments such as oncology SACT [Systematic Anti-Cancer Treatment], anti-infectives and monoclonal anti-bodies."

The PIN points out that potential bidders must be able to evidence stability of products prepared, be in a position to supply products daily Monday to Friday, work with the authority to minimise waste, and be based no greater than three hours driving from the hospital.

Members of the Borders health board received a report in 2021which considered the option of moving to a shared aseptic service with NHS Lothian against a refurbishment of the local unit to ensure it met the necessary environmental requirements. 

"This would mean that once implemented, NHS Lothian would provide the aseptic service and the aseptic suite at the Borders General Hospital would close", the report explained.

The Scottish Government had been seeking to reduce the number of production units since 2017 via a change programme.

The programme was created in response to challenges which were highlighted by NHS Boards, specialist aseptic pharmacists/technicians and their quality assurance colleagues in relation to: • ongoing problems with resilience and sustainability of Pharmacy Aseptic Services • increasing demand • a number of Aseptic units requiring refurbishment or rebuild, variation in prescribing practices and clinical service delivery.

In the case of the Borders facilities, it was stated: "The suite has not been refurbished since the hospital was built (over 30 years ago) and is no longer deemed fit for purpose. The unit has received appropriate maintenance during this time."

The cost of refurbishing the Borders suite was estimated at £1.5 million.

The 2021 report to the Board explained: "There are several challenges that prevent the current suite from meeting both this guidance and the best practice guidance for pharmacy facilities. These are: The suite does not have dedicated changing facilities; The suite does not have first and second-stage changing rooms; The suite does not have outer and inner support rooms separated by airlock hatches.

"The support room does not have units that are easy cleaning; The outer support room has consumables on open shelving rather than within units; The outer and inner support rooms are within the same room; In addition the air handling unit is due for replacement and has been breaking down on a regular basis. Due to the above the aseptic unit currently carries a high risk on the NHS Borders risk register in relation to its environmental condition which would also have an impact on business continuity."

 A total of 175 patients received treatment monthly from the BMC at that time which accounted for 264 treatment episodes. Three main types of treatment regimens were provided to patients that included oral medication, medication that would be available in prefilled form and medication that would need to be supplied by NHS Lothian should this option be taken forward.

The issue of aseptic production was the subject of a further report last year when the options were re-submitted to NHS Borders board. By this time the unit at BGH was processing between 320-400 items a month, 96% of which were chemotherapy, representing increased demand of around 20%.

In a statement, NHS Borders told us: "“We have explored the option of manufacturing aseptic products collaboratively with NHS Lothian. Unfortunately, this is not possible at present, and therefore we have published a Prior Information Notice (PIN) to tender for aseptic products to seek another provider.

“In the meantime, we continue to manufacture our own aseptic products.”

A contract notice is expected to be published in August.

Liquidators uncover yet more Avocet allegations

by OUR BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT

The long-running series of investigations into the collapse of the Avocet fuel additive 'project' now encompasses a probe into the transfer of the Group's intellectual property - an inquiry which could see the former bosses become disqualified directors.

Multiple strands of research are continuing into the failure of Avocet parent business Omega Infinite - unsecured creditors have filed claims totalling £20.36 million so far - and these are outlined in a progress report by joint liquidators involved in a winding up by the court.

It is revealed that insolvency experts Ashleigh Fletcher and Joanne Hammond have been in touch with police in a bid to establish the position regarding an alleged theft relating to Omega's assets and its insurance position. 

And there are claims that several shareholdings in the company are not fully paid. Letters have been sent to Omega's shareholders asking them to provide evidence as to how and when their shares were paid up.

Mr Fletcher and Ms Hammond have also spent time liaising with the Insolvency Service and other parties in relation to their enquiries into the company's activities.

Meanwhile, a law firm acting for the liquidators has successfully repossessed one of two upmarket flats on Scarborough's Esplanade which were bought by former Avocet chairman Martin Frost and paid for with £425,000 of the company's cash. 

Proceedings are 'ongoing' in a separate application for possession of the second apartment where Mr Frost and his wife Janet - both declared bankrupt in 2021 - have been living.

The joint liquidators obtained copies of forms which had been executed to transfer the flats into Mr Frost's sole name as legal titleholder. However, neither transaction had been registered at HM Land Registry. The court ruled last year that both flats were subject to a constructive trust in favour of Omega, and ordered that they should be transferred to the liquidators.

In addition, the liquidation team has filed claims in the respective Frost bankruptcies in the sum of £2.011 million, excluding interest and costs.

A lengthy Police Scotland investigation into complaints of alleged fraud by Mr Frost while a director of the Avocet Group has yet to be concluded

The 33-page progress report from practitioners Begbies Traynor covers the 12 months up to April of this year by which time the costs associated with time spent on the liquidation had reached £664,164. There are outstanding fees too for specialist firms commissioned by the liquidators.

The Avocet fuel additive patents - worth hundreds of millions of pounds, according to Mr Frost in his overblown sales pitches to potential investors - were transferred to an associated company in December 2018.

The report explains: "The joint liquidators' investigations into the transfer of the IP are still ongoing. These investigations seek to protect the interests of creditors (and the wider public) by identifying and reporting offences which may not lead to recoveries for the estate, but may result in the directors being disqualified".

According to the document, the asset position is complicated by ambiguity regarding ownership, Group structure, and changes made to it.

The report will also have reminded hundreds of investors who, between them, have lost many millions of pounds in the venture fronted by Mr Frost and fellow director Dr James Jennings of the eye-watering riches they were promised from worldwide franchises, each of them set to rake in £1 million for the Group.

In a 2016 Information Memorandum distributed by Mr Frost, he forecast the following revenue figures for Avocet: "2019 £52.016 million; 2020 £122.951 million; 2021 £202.796 million." Bold predictions from a business which was not even trading at the time, and which never brought a single product to market.

The liquidators tell creditors in their latest report they are aware that as part of the agreement for the transfer of the intellectual property the associated company was to pay Omega £1 million per franchise set-up, for each master franchise, and Omega was to receive 30% of the profits generated through seven franchise companies.

Sadly, the report notes: "The joint liquidators confirm no payments have been received in relation to franchises since the commencement of the liquidation.

"It is also apparent that a number of the associated companies have now been dissolved having only ever filed dormant accounts, therefore it is not anticipated that there will be any realisations from the franchise agreements".

As the liquidation process continues, the work so far has "uncovered transactions which require further investigation. The joint liquidators are carrying out an extensive investigation into the reasons for the company's failure and the financial performance of the company".

An investor caught up in what he described as 'a Ponzi scheme from start to finish' praised the liquidators for their tenacity in following up the host of allegations of wrongdoing made against Avocet/Omega management.

He added: "Unfortunately, as we've said before, the authorities supposed to be responsible for the regulation of business activities failed to act and allowed those who ran the Avocet 'project' to continue with their activities for far too long. As a result, the losses to shareholders and creditors spiralled out of control with many of us suffering financial hardship while left frustrated and extremely angry". 

 

"Essential Election Guide" creates Scottish Super Constituency

by OUR POLITICAL STAFF

In its never-ending political campaign to secure a maximum number of Scottish seats for the Tory Party, and to keep the SNP on the naughty step, the Daily Mail will always go to extraordinary lengths to brainwash (sorry, persuade) its readers to cast their votes for those displaying blue rosettes.

But as we try to keep one eye on the General Election activity in the Borders - precious little, so far - and the other on wider press and media coverage, it was interesting to see the local and national campaigns merge together in the Scottish Daily Mail's "essential election guide", published in two parts earlier this week.

Political editor Michael Blackley provided helpful (?) constituency profiles of "seats vital to seeing off the Nationalists", including analysis of Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk where John Lamont (Con) is defending a 5,148 majority in what is seen as a straight fight with David Wilson (SNP).

Mr Lamont warns potential voters in his leaflets, and on social media, that it is going to be a mighty close run thing. But he claims to be the only pro-Union contender who can beat the Nationalists as Labour and the Liberal Democrats just don't cut it with the Borders electorate. The presence of a Reform candidate may or may not damage the Tories' chances here.

His campaign has attracted some adverse opinions on Facebook with critics wondering why he has concentrated mainly on devolved issues - potholes, health, and road improvements - while paying little heed to Westminster policies or his own party manifesto.

The Mail spotlight on Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk naturally devoted most of the available space to the topics highlighted by Mr Lamont under the heading 'Critical condition of healthcare is proving key campaign issue' without pointing out that members of the House of Commons should not meddle in health service matters affecting Scotland.

According to the Mail's insight: "NHS Borders has said it may soon close the 92 community hospital beds in Kelso, Duns, Hawick and Peebles, causing major concern locally".

Mr Lamont had apparently been 'pounding the streets' to gain thousands of signatures for a petition to stop closures before the election was called.

Six days before the Mail article appeared, NHS Borders announced that while a review was continuing “ongoing medical cover for Kelso and the Knoll (Duns) Community Hospitals has been secured to the end of March 2025.” However, this development did not merit a single sentence in the newspaper.

But when it came to the issue of roads, Mr Blackley apparently went off the rails, so to speak. 

Readers were told: "The SNP's failure to upgrade the A75 and A77 roads has also rankled with people and the votes of motorists are key".

If these are concerns for Mr Lamont, then he must be hoping to represent a truly 'Super Constituency' for the A75 which links Gretna and Stranraer in the far south-west is up to 100 miles from the lands of Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk as the crow flies, and 129 miles by car.

Meanwhile, the A77 (Glasgow-Stranraer route) lies some 59 miles in a straight line from Galashiels.

It seems the Mail's choice to represent the eastern Borders seat will have plenty on his plate should he emerge victorious from his joust with Mr Wilson on July 4th!

Perhaps Blackley misread a statement issued by the self-styled 'Champion for the Borders' in March when he alleged the SNP Government had failed to provide sufficient cash for trunk road improvements and pothole repairs (again).

Mr Lamont wrote: " I have recently been overwhelmed by the number of local people who are extremely concerned at the state of roads across the Scottish Borders. Potholes litter our streets and pavements. The A68 needs investment. The A7 needs to be upgraded. The A1 needs to be dualled. The dire state of our roads is putting public safety at risk."

No reference at all to the far distant A75 or A77.

Here is the full list of candidates for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk - none of them (as far as we know) - seeking improvements to the Gretna-Stranraer route:

*Ray Georgeson, Scottish Liberal Democrats 

*Hamish Goldie-Scot, Scottish Family Party

*Carolyn Grant, Reform UK 

*John Lamont, Scottish Conservative and Unionist 

*Neil MacKinnon, Scottish Green Party 

*Ellie Merton, Independent 

*Caitlin Stott, Scottish Labour Party

*David James Wilson, Scottish National Party (SNP) 

Borders Council's record capital spend after borrowing £40 million

by OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT EDITOR

Scottish Borders Council recorded its highest ever annual investment in major publicly funded projects during 2023/24 with a £90 million programme achieved after borrowing £40 million in the final quarter of the financial year.

The figures on borrowing and spending are revealed in SBC's draft annual report and accounts which also show a revenue underspend of £600,000 on its approved budget for 2023/24 with a total outlay on service provision of £346.5 million.

In her management commentary on the accounts, Director of Finance Suzanne Douglas writes: "The Capital Financial Plan aims to ensure that capital borrowing is within prudential borrowing limits and remains sustainable in the longer term. In this regard it is important to recognise that capital investment decisions taken now have longer term borrowing and revenue implications which have the potential to place an undue burden on future taxpayers."

She points out that the £90 million Capital spend in 2023/24 represents the highest amount the Council has delivered demonstrating significant investment in key projects across the Borders.

Individual schemes included Flood Protection Works £22.3 million; Roads & Bridges £8.5 million; Land & Property Infrastructure £3.8 million; Plant & Vehicles £4.7 million; Earlston Primary School £6.7 million; Galashiels Academy £15.5 million; Peebles High School £8.1 million; ICT Transformation £6.4 million; Economic Regeneration £4.1 million.

According to Ms Douglas: "Debt Management: The Council continued to maintain its’ under-borrowed position only borrowing £40 million in the final quarter of the year to support capital spend compared to £70 million originally anticipated. This means that the capital financing need was not fully funded by external loan debt and instead internal cash supporting the Council’s reserves, balances and cash flow has continued to be used as a temporary tactical measure. This strategy remains both prudent and cost effective."

The authority's outstanding external debt as at 31 March 2024 was £251 million. The average rate of interest paid on a portfolio of loans was 4.53% while the amount owed to the UK Treasury's Public Works Loans Board [PWLB] increased by more than 15% from £184 million in March 2023 to £212.4 million a year later.

So far as revenue was concerned, the finance director explains savings of £11.5 million were delivered during 2023/24 in order to balance the costs of delivering services and the available resources. 

"Of the savings delivered during 2023/24 £6.6 million (58%) were delivered permanently (down from 74% last year) leaving a balance of £4.9 million (42%) to be carried forward from 2023/24 for permanent delivery in 2024/25. The 2024/25 plan includes savings of £4.4 million giving a total target of £9.3 million in 2024/25. 

"This increasing level of brought forward savings increases the challenge of delivering savings. To date the Council’s approach to longer term financial planning has delivered permanent savings of £85 million in the last 11 years. Ongoing effort will be required going forward to successfully deliver the Financial Plan due to the scale of further savings required in 2024/25 and beyond and the challenges now posed through the current economic position."

Ms Douglas concludes that the operating environment for the Council continues to be very challenging. The Council is faced with a number of financial and economic influences such as increasing demands on services, restricted funding, the ongoing impact of high inflation in key areas and wider labour market factors affecting the Council’s ability to recruit to fill key vacancies. 

These pressures have resulted in significant use of one-off funding during 2023/34 and further use of reserves is planned as part of the agreed budget for 2024/25. To ensure the continued financial sustainability of the Council it must reduce spend across services. 

"The Council, despite ongoing challenges, has met the aims of its Financial Strategy and has delivered record capital spend during 2023/24 whilst also delivering its planned services within budget. Scottish Borders Council remains financially sound and well placed to serve the people of the Scottish Borders in the future."

Costs associated with councillors' salaries and expenses included the following data: total remuneration to 'senior' councillors increased by 9.1% from £388,945 to £424,351 while the overall expenditure on councillors was up by 3.7% from £808,000 to £838,000.

The highest paid staff members [total remuneration including pension contributions and expenses] included chief executive David Robertson £143,873, and directors Jenni Craig (Resilient Communities) £101,229; Clair Hepburn (People, Performance and Change) £101,253; Lesley Munro (Education and Children's Services) £103,964); John Curry (Infrastructure and Environment) £100,146); and Nuala McKinlay (Corporate Governance) £101,032.

There was a 14.9% increase in the number of employees paid more than £50,000 per annum [361 in 2022/23 and 415 in 2023/24].

The financial bills associated with SBC's three Public Finance Initiative (PFI) secondary schools in Earlston, Duns and Eyemouth will total £16.694 million in 2024/25. The figure is made up of Payment for Services £8.6 million, reimbursement of capital expenditure £4.625 million, and interest £3.468 million.

Other longer term liabilities linked to the PFI agreement signed off in 2006/07 amount to £293.469 million including interest payments of £49.331 million.

However, the report points out that flexibility arrangements introduced by the Scottish Government allows councils to undertake 'internal accounting changes' to reprofile the repayments charged to their General Funds over an extended period of time. SBC has taken advantage of this facility.

The draft accounts include a number of provisions which are recognised when the council has a present obligation (legal or constructive) as a result of a past event. The provisions list with estimates as detailed is:

 *Provision for contractual claims is the anticipated cost for remedial works relating to SBc Contracts, the authority's trading entity which carries out roadworks - £50,000.

*Equal Pay Provision - Employment Tribunal proceedings have been raised against the Council by a number of staff relating to Equal Pay - £8,000.

*Historical Legal Claims: Provision relates to civil claims raised against the Council in relation to historical child abuse - £29,000.

*Municipal Mutual Insurance – estimate of outstanding claims relating to the Council following Municipal Mutual Insurance Ltd ceasing operations in 1992 - £310,000.

*Provision for asset decommissioning reflect the Council`s liability for restoration and ongoing maintenance in respect of the Langlee landfill site on the outskirts of Galashiels. This has been provided for based on the net present value of estimated future costs - £3.653 million.

Windfarm would 'transform valley economy', say developers

by LESTER CROSS

Developers promoting a £417 million windfarm project in rural Roxburghshire have reduced the number of turbines in their scheme from 62 to 53, and have scrapped plans for a solar array in revised proposals lodged with the Scottish Government's Energy Consents Unit.

Consultants commissioned by Teviot Wind Farm Ltd., an offshoot of Muirhall Energy, claim in an Economic and Community Impact report that the 350 MW wind farm in the countryside, near Hawick, would transform the economy of Teviotdale and Liddesdale.

If the vast project receives the approval of Scottish Ministers it is also likely to have a considerable environment impact on the area, given the list of measures included in the application documents.

The developers are seeking 40-year consent for (among other things): crane hard standings adjacent to each turbine; up to three permanent steel lattice anemometer masts of up to 149.9 metres in height; two substations and control buildings (also comprising energy storage facilities). 

In addition, the plans allow for 31 watercourse crossings (nine new and 22 upgrades) and associated infrastructure i.e. culverts; some 36 kilometres of new access tracks; 12 kilometres of upgrading existing tracks; and associated ancillary engineering works. 

The applicant's documentation states: "In addition to the above components associated with the operation of the revised development, construction will also require the following components: the creation of up to six temporary borrow pits for the extraction of stone (subject to detailed site investigation); three temporary construction compounds; three temporary concrete batching facilities anticipated to be located within borrow pits; a temporary helipad for health and safety purposes during construction". 

Construction of the windfarm would also require junction widening to access the site off the A7 and upgrading part of Priesthaugh Road; and felling approximately 206 hectares of forestry to deliver the components associated with the revised development. 

The economic impact report from specialists Biggar Economics calculates total development and construction costs for the Teviot wind farm of £417.5 million means Teviot and Liddesdale could secure contracts worth £8.8 million and the Scottish Borders, £41.7 million.

In addition to the economic impact generated throughout the construction and operation of the windfarm, a community investment package of £7,000 per Mega Watt [MW] would provide £2.5 million per year for the local community. 

"This level of funding is significantly above the Scottish Government’s guidance on community benefit. Non-domestic rates payments from the proposed development of £4 million a year, equivalent to around £159.5 million over the lifetime of the project."

But the range of benefits claimed by the developers does not stop there.

According to the Biggar report: "Muirhall Energy has ambitious plans to transform the economy and community of Teviot and Liddesdale which go beyond the construction and operation of the proposed development itself and aim to address long term issues such as demographic decline and low productivity. 

"Through work with the local community, Muirhall Energy have identified the following areas for investment: 

"▪ education and training: including an apprenticeship scheme for young people to work on the Proposed Development and bursaries to support young people into further education and to take driving lessons; 

"▪ infrastructure: regenerating the town centres by funding the redevelopment of abandoned shops; 

"▪ energy and connectivity: working with industry professionals to reduce electricity costs and address fuel poverty in the area, help local farms diversify into producing greenhouse crops, support the development of e-bikes and an electric dial-a-bus service in Teviot and Liddesdale and improve local internet connectivity; and 

"▪ environment: sponsoring a bee hive per turbine through Plan Bee Ltd, allowing Scotland to benefit from the pollination of flowers and helping fund local community orchards and woodland to give people high quality natural places to enjoy."

Kelly Wyness, Senior Project Manager at Muirhall Energy, told the website RENEWS.BIZ: “We have taken on board the feedback from our public consultation events and submissions from statutory consultees, and worked closely with our landscape architects to create a revised layout which significantly reduces the number of turbines and visibility of the development from the A7.

“While we are now proposing fewer turbines, the project would still make an important contribution towards Scotland’s renewable energy and climate change targets and deliver a significant community benefit fund to be invested in the local area.

“We remain totally committed to offering local communities the opportunity to take an ownership stake in the wind farm, which would provide further revenues for the local area, something we successfully delivered on our Crossdykes Wind Farm in Dumfries and Galloway.

“The project also has the potential to support the restoration and enhancement of the equivalent of 390 rugby pitches of degraded peatland, and would see the planting of native tree species in a number of areas across the site.”

A fair wind - everyone's a winner!

by DOUGLAS SHEPHERD

A single wind farm in the Lammermuir Hills generates millions of pounds for one of the biggest landowners in the Scottish Borders, has allowed its operators to pay over £64 million in dividends last year, and has provided the cash to support 140 local environmental projects over a decade.

Fallago Rig's 48 turbines with a capability to produce 144 megawatts of electricity is the primary source of income for Sunlaws Development Company Ltd. [SDC], a business based at Floors Castle, near Kelso, home to the Duke of Roxburghe and his family. The company is controlled by the Roxburghe Second Discretionary Trust.

Newly published accounts for SDC which invests in land assets for residential and commercial development as well as land rental show turnover derived from its principal activities increased by over 26% last year, from £8.877 million to £11.273 million. The business's trading arm, Floors Castle Enterprises [FCE] operates the tourism business of Floors Castle, the largest inhabited property in Scotland.

The document published on the Companies House website indicates that 88% of investment property in the SDC portfolio which has a total value at £40 million relates to the lease interest in the wind farm.

According to a strategic report from the company's directors: "Overall the company has seen its operating profit increase to £8,445,736 (£6,614,937 in 2022)". The rise in profitability is equivalent to 27.6%.

The report adds: "We remain a cash positive business and seek opportunities to invest in our operating assets and expand our business through acquisition development assets to ultimately maximise shareholder returns".

A high proportion of SDC's rental incomes relate to a tenant operating the wind farm. "The pricing and regulations enforced on the tenant can impact the level of income received on an annual basis".

The tenant in question is Fallago Rig Windfarm Ltd., whose controlling party is the Edinburgh-based Federated Hermes Diversified Infrastructure Fund.

Figures published by Fallago Rig Windfarm Ltd. reveal revenue of £97 million last year and an operating profit of £69.2 million. The equivalent number of households powered in the year was 139,376. Dividends distributed totalled £64 million, up from £58.2 million in 2022.

The accounts show the company has no employees while the future outlook is set to deliver "strong profitability and cash flows".

So far as Floors Castle Enterprises is concerned, the visitor attraction and its top class facilities generated income of £1,719, 121 last year compared to £1,620,915 in 2022.

The strategic report notes: "National and global economic conditions affect the ability of potential customers to spend on travel and tourism.

"2021 and 2022 saw an increase in national travel due to continuing international travel restrictions which positively affected Floors Castle Enterprises tourism business. During the current financial year (2022/23) there has been a clear downturn in national travel with UK residents choosing to resume international travel.

"Floors Castle offers premium experiences to international High Net Worth individuals. Changes in international travel restrictions may have a direct affect on our ability to host clients for premium experiences where their country of origin or the UK are imposing travel restrictions".

Roxburghe Estates has one of the largest land holdings in Scotland, totalling 52,000 acres.

Meanwhile, the Fallago Environment Fund, co-ordinated by the Tweed Forum on behalf of Roxburghe Estates, EDF Renewables and Hermes Investment Management has been awarding grants to Scottish Borders projects since its creation in 2014. As of November 2023 the fund had donated £1.87 million to 142 individual projects.

 

Lynx reintroduction back on the agenda

by EWAN LAMB

The organisation fronting the latest highly controversial plan to reintroduce wild lynx to forested areas of Northumberland and "the bordering areas of Southern Scotland" will take its travelling exhibition to two Borders villages this month, giving local residents an opportunity to have their say.

Previous initiatives aimed at bringing back the mammal which was driven to extinction in England and Wales in medieval times have been greeted with opposition and alarm by many farmers, and by Rachael Hamilton (Con) who represents the Ettrick Roxburgh and Berwickshire constituency in the Scottish Parliament.

Now, research commissioned by The Lifescape Project, a charitable limited liability company (LLP) has concluded the heavily wooded terrain on the England-Scotland boundary, including commercial forests, offers the only English location for lynx to thrive.

The Wildlife Trusts, 'a grassroots movement' with over 900,000 members in 46 individual trusts, are delivery partners for the so-called Missing Lynx initiative. 

According to The Missing Lynx website: "One of the first steps was to test whether lynx could survive anywhere in England and Wales. To do this, The Lifescape Project used a similar approach to that used in Germany, where lynx have already been successfully brought back. They worked with European experts to test ‘ecological feasibility’ - in other words, they tested whether there would be more than a 95% chance of lynx surviving and growing to healthy populations in Britain."

They used advanced computer modelling techniques and the most recent and detailed data on lynx ecology and Britain's landscapes.

"Essentially, they created a simplified virtual Britain for simulated lynx to live and move about in. Knowledge from over 50 years of monitoring European lynx populations helped make the lynx behaviour as realistic as possible.  This model allowed them to test different lynx reintroduction scenarios, studying the projected outcome with different locations, timings and other important factors." 

The research found that if lynx were to be released in Northumberland, they could grow into a healthy population covering north-west Northumberland, the edge of Cumbria and the bordering areas of southern Scotland. 

"Only in this area do we have the extensive forest habitats that lynx need. A reintroduction would not be possible in other areas of England and Wales."

The Missing Lynx exhibition will visit Newcastleton from June 12th-15th, and then Bonchester Bridge from June 16th-19th.

The organisers claim: "The exhibition aims to inspire local people to find out about the lynx that used to live in Britain – they disappeared in medieval times when their woodland habitat was largely chopped down. Books and poems mention lynx in the countryside up until the 18th century, perhaps living alongside famous Scottish landmarks such as Hermitage Castle.".

Dr Deborah Brady, The Lifescape Project’s Lead Ecologist said: “Nature is in crisis and one in six species is now at risk of extinction in this country. Lynx are one of the native species that were once part of the rich mix of wildlife found in our countryside and one of many species that have vanished due to human impact. Animals and habitats are part of an interconnected web of life and huge efforts are being made to restore wildlife and the places that they depend on wherever possible. Replacing missing parts of this jigsaw such as lynx can help rebuild our ecosystems.”

And Faye Whiley, Social Science Officer of The Missing Lynx Project commented: “Our exhibition is going to give local communities a wonderful chance to find out all about lynx and to express their views. We hope people will enjoy it and be inspired by the immersive experience – it’ll be a lovely opportunity to discover more about wildlife, past, present and future. We’re looking forward to chatting to visitors – head to our website to get your free ticket!”

Concerns that the proposed reintroduction of lynx could result in the loss of large numbers of lambs and other animals on Borders farms were raised by Mrs Hamilton as far back as 2017.

In a letter to Michael Gove, the then Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Mrs Hamilton stated: "I write with some urgency regarding the potential reintroduction of lynx in the Kielder Forest on the edge of my constituency of Ettrick, Roxburgh & Berwickshire. Many constituents, especially farmers, have made representations to me about fears for their livelihoods if lynx were to attack their livestock and either cause significant or fatal damage to them. 

"This would cause significant problems for the viability of their businesses, not to mention create more work for the farmers themselves. The cost to the public purse of supporting a long-term livestock compensation scheme, and the ecological benefits of reintroducing lynx, have yet to be fully examined. We also have to think about existing native species that are struggling to survive in Scotland, and across the UK, such as the Scottish Wildcat and the Red Squirrel. Diverting funds out of budgets to help protect these species will inevitably take place to fund the protection of lynx. Although I am sure you are looking after the interests of all stakeholders, I implore you to take special notice of the concerns of farmers and stop any reintroduction of lynx. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on such a vital issue to many farmers in the Borders."

A subsequent application in 2018 from the Lynx UK Trust for a licence to release six lynx into the Kielder Forest was turned down following Mr Gove's intervention.

Move to strip Councillor Rowley of his Executive role

by OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT EDITOR

A group of nine members of Scottish Borders Council have signed a requisition order seeking to remove suspended Tory councillor Mark Rowley from his influential role as Executive Member for Service Delivery and Transformation.

The move, brought under the local authority's Procedural Standing Orders, follows last month's decision by the Standards Commission for Scotland to suspend Councillor Rowley - he represents a Berwickshire ward - from attending council meetings from May 20th until midnight on June 16th.

A hearing in front of Commissioners concluded that Mr Rowley had breached the councillors' Code of Conduct on three occasions in 2022.

The breaches related to Mr Rowley's failure to declare his employment as a Strategy Manager with South of Scotland Enterprise at three council meetings held between February and August 2022, when matters linked to, or that could have impacted on the work of South of Scotland Enterprise, were being discussed.

SBC Standing Order Number Nine states: "A special meeting of the Council may be called at any time by the proper officer, or by them on being required to do so by the Convener, or by them on their receiving a requisition in writing for that purpose specifying the business proposed to be transacted at the meeting. 

"Such requisition must be signed by at least one-fourth of the whole number of members of the Council (i.e. nine Members), and the meeting shall be held within fourteen days of receipt of the requisition by the proper officer.

The signatories to the order - it will come before a full council meeting on June 13th - are Elaine Thornton-Nicol (SNP), Fay Sinclair (SNP) Viv Thomson (SNP), John Paton-Day (SNP), Marshall Douglas (SNP), Donald Moffat (SNP), Robin Tatler (Independent), James Anderson (Independent) and Neil MacKinnon (Scottish Green Party).

The requisition order states: "Consider request to remove the Executive Member for Service Delivery and Transformation from their role based on no confidence in their ability to carry out the role fully".

Councillor Rowley is a former Leader of Scottish Borders Council, and has also held the economic development portfolio.

A statement issued by the Standards Commission after a panel heard about the complaints levelled against Mr Rowley by fellow council members, included the following: "In reaching its decision on sanction, the Hearing Panel noted that Mr Rowley had co-operated with the investigative and Hearing processes, and had a previously unblemished record as a councillor. The Panel accepted Mr Rowley had registered his employment and, as such, there was no suggestion he had tried to hide or conceal his interest.

"The Panel agreed, nevertheless, that it was necessary to impose a suspension in order to reflect the seriousness of the breach, to promote adherence to the Code and to maintain and improve the public’s confidence that councillors will comply with the Code and will be held accountable if they fail to do so."

Top planners to discuss Borders projects

by OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT EDITOR

Ambitious proposals for the development of the Tweedbank community in the Central Borders over the next fifteen years, including the construction of up to 400 new houses and a care village will feature at a conference for Scotland's leading planners when they assemble in Galashiels later this month.

A number of other local initiatives will be the subject of presentations to the annual get together of the Heads of Planning Scotland [HOPS], an influential body which helps to shape policies at national level. 

Ian Aikman, chief planning officer at Scottish Borders Council, is currently chair of HOPS which has members from local authorities throughout Scotland.

The conference, at Borders College campus on June 20th will include a ministerial address from Ivan McKee, the Scottish Government Minister for Public Finance. There will also be a contribution from Fiona Simpson, chief planner at the Scottish Government.

'Tweedbank - A Community For The Future' will be the subject of a presentation by John Curry, SBC's Director of Infrastructure and Environment.

Proposals for the multi-million pounds development include a heat and energy network with renewable generation that supports phased development. The plans also allow for a new 60-bed older people and dementia care village with associated complementary facilities.

The council confirmed last year - five years after it paid around £10 million for country estate land next to the existing settlement - that it would seek to appoint a development partner for the Tweedbank project. Significant sums of external finance will be required if the items on the SBC wish list are to be delivered.

These include extensive additional infrastructure, an improved community centre, a play park and other complementary community facilities and business enterprises that support and enhance the domestic and business community.

Mr Curry, in a report prepared for councillors in 2023, stated: " The Tweedbank project creates the opportunity to develop and implement practical and deliverable innovative technologies and solutions in line with phased delivery of the site adopting the following strategies: 

"A ‘fabric first’ and lifecycle orientated approach to design where buildings are designed and constructed to be energy efficient with high levels of insulation and airtightness, appropriate ventilation and daylighting strategies. Alongside this with some of the existing buildings on the site there are opportunities to refurbish and retrofit to improve energy performance. 

"Decarbonised Energy Systems and Renewable Energy to support the transition to a decarbonised energy system to heat and power new buildings, reflecting the national energy strategy, aligned with the Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategy, likely through the establishment of a heat and energy network. Alongside this, exploiting opportunities to maximise renewable energy generation for example from geothermal water source heat pumps, hydroelectric power, wastewater, solar photovoltaic panels and battery storage."

The HOPS website explains that the 2024 conference will focus on town planner Sir Patrick Geddes’ principles of Place, Work, Folk. 

According to Geddes (1854-1932): “Town Planning is not mere place-planning, nor even work planning. If it is to be successful it must be folk planning. This means that its task is not to coerce people into new places against their associations, wishes, and interest, as we find bad schemes trying to do. Instead its task is to find the right places for each sort of people; place where they will really flourish."

Other speakers due to address the conference include Sam Smith, Chief Officer Economic Development at SBC, Dr Martin Valenti, Director of Net Zero at South of Scotland Enterprise, and Ian Dalgleish and Angela Crow, of Energise Galashiels.