'Some of our libraries have fewer than one person a day attending them - is that sustainable?'
Live Borders chairman opens up on challenges facing trust...
Last updated 8th May 2025
The chairman of the charity responsible for managing many of our region's libraries, community halls and leisure centres is defending its decision to recruit a new CEO on a salary, which was advertised at almost £100,000 a year, while preparing to consult on cuts to staff and services.
Bill Douglas says to get someone with the experience they need to put Live Borders on a sustainable footing they have to pay the market rate.
He spoke to Greatest Hits Radio shortly before it was announced Catriona McAllister, who has previously held senior roles at Heriot-Watt University and Oriam, will take up the role in July.
She's currently working as Head of Regulatory Improvement for the Government of Jersey, having initially served seven years as Chief Executive Officer of Jersey Sport, where she led significant change and transformational programmes.
Bill told us: "When I came in to Live Borders and I met the team here, I realised there was an organisation working really hard to provide services to the community but lacking a bit of direction and focus, and I see a fantastic opportunity to really transform the way we work with communities and support them to do it better."
A report by independent consultants last month recommended closing more than 30 buildings operated by Live Borders and cutting more than 50 jobs in a bid to find annual savings of more than £2.5 million.
And Bill admits difficult decisions will have to be made.
"The Integratis report came out saying effectively we have an unsustainable model going forward of trying to provide the services we do across too many places," he said.
"The important thing coming from Live Borders point of view is it's not where we do these things, it's what we do.
"Some of our libraries have fewer than one person a day attending them - is that sustainable? No. But can we put the library together with some other building and get a vibrant centre for a village or town? And that's really where the consultation piece comes in.
"We'll have meetings in local communities, inviting them along; there will be a website for people to contact us on; an email address for them to reach out to.
"And we'll be coming out with: 'Here's the challenge we face in your area, what do we want to do?'
"It's not just a Live Borders decision, it's not just an SBC decision, it's a community decision. Because, at the end of the day, sustaining what the community does in the community is really important to me."
Among the buildings at risk of being closed are: TriFitness, Queen's Leisure Centre, Langlee Community Centre, Focus Centre, and Old Gala House in Galashiels; Selkirk Leisure Centre, Sir Walter Scott's Courtroom, Selkirk Caravan Park, and Halliwell's House Museum in Selkirk; Borders Textile Towerhouse and Wilton Primary Swimming Pool in Hawick; St Ronan's Wells Visitor Centre in Innerleithen; the Drill Hall in Peebles; Tweedbank Community Centre; and Newtown Community Wing.
Public meetings are taking place in many of the affected communities ahead of the public consultation to rally support.
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Bill said: "It's not just a simple accountancy exercise, but the utility costs for our pools went up by £2 million, from pre-Covid to now.
"If I could just ask people to engage with us - constructively and positively. Don't just say: 'Please don't close this'.
"What are you doing in it, whether it is a community centre, a library or a pool? And then how do you think we can deliver these things better - do we build an extension to a current primary school and that's the library and a community centre?
"I don't know. But if we can engage positively and constructively we'll get a really great answer out of this exercise rather than just close everything to save money."
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