Council 27 June 2017

Naming of New Centre at Newbattle

Report by Garry Sheret, Head of Property and Facilities Management

1 Purpose of Report

The Purpose of this report is to seek approval for the new multi use building at Newbattle to be named Newbattle Community Campus.

Newbattle High School will retain its name and will remain as Newbattle High School within the Newbattle Community Campus building.

Up until now the site has been referred to as Newbattle Centre. Officers were approached by Mayfield and Community Council in January 2017 who suggested that Newbattle Community Campus was the preferred choice of name by the majority of people living within the Communities.

Officers approached the Community Councils of Mayfield and Easthouses, and Gorebridge. Following their support the name change was subject to an online survey within the communities. The outcome of this survey has been clear that Newbattle Community Campus is the preferred choice of the community.

2 Background

2.1 Newbattle History

Newbattle, a familiar name, was named so by a colony of Cistercian Monks, who came to the area from Melrose in search of a larger residence, more than 900 years ago. On finding a suitable site, on the banks of the South Esk, they decided to settle down and named their new home Newbotle,’botle’ being an old Scottish name for steading or dwelling. Eventually, after ten recorded variations in the spelling of Newbotle, an extra ‘’t” was added and the ‘o’ gave way to an ‘a’ becoming Newbattle, the name by which is known today.

2.2 Community Feedback

Newbattle Centre reached financial close on the 12 February 2016. The project commenced on site on site on the 19 January 2016 (to complete essential pre contract enabling works).

It has always been the case that Newbattle High School will retain it’s name when it moves to the new building. 2

The new building however has been referred to as Newbattle Centre from early in its inception. The purpose of this terminology is to distinguish the new building as a facility for community use rather than a building whose sole purpose is for Educational use reflecting a one Council ethos.

At the end of 2016 Mayfield and Easthouses Community Council undertook a poll through their Community Council facebook page looking for suggestions for the name for the new building at Newbattle. A number of suggestions were put forward by the Community but by far the most popular was Newbattle Community Campus.

Officers requested the Secretary of Mayfield and Easthouses Community Council to approach the Community Councils for Gorebridge and Newtongrange to establish if they agreed with the use of the Newbattle Community Campus name.

Newtongrange County Council was supportive of using this name and Gorebridge Community Council did not have any particular preference at this stage.

Feedback from these discussions was discussed at the project board and a decision was taken to carry out a consultation survey with the three communities to establish which of the two names should be used for the new building.

The survey contained two choices:-

1. Newbattle Centre 2. Newbattle Community Campus

The survey went live on the 31 March 2017 and remained open until the 5 May 2017. Links to the survey were circulated to each of the Community Councils. Adverts were also put up in Council buildings around the three communities along with advertisement on the Council Website and facebook page. Black Diamond FM also provided media coverage of the survey results.

The survey received 307 votes in total. 221 people voted for Newbattle Community Campus whilst 86 people voted for Newbattle Centre.

4 Report Implications

4.1 Change of Name

The only implication of this report is a change of name for the new building to Newbattle Community Campus which can be accommodated with the overall project costs.

3

4.2 Resource

There are no additional resource implications resulting from the proposals outlined in this report.

4.3 Risk

There are no risks associated with this report.

5 Policy

5.1 Single Midlothian Plan and Business Transformation

Themes addressed in this report:

Community safety Adult health, care and housing Getting it right for every Midlothian child Improving opportunities in Midlothian Sustainable growth Business transformation and Best Value None of the above

5.1.1 Key Priorities within the Single Midlothian Plan

This project supports the provision of suitable infrastructure for the efficient and effective delivery of services to meet the full range of community needs. The co-location of facilities would ensure closer working relationships and assist in the delivery of strategic initiatives such as the Ageing Well, Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC), Midlothian Active Choices and Get Going programmes.

5.2 Impact on Performance and Outcomes

This work is a part of the Single Midlothian Plan’s key priority of Early Years, providing fit for purpose community schools to present every child with the opportunity to attend the school which serves their community and supports improvement in pupil attainment and achievement.

5.3 Adopting a Preventative Approach

Providing fit for purpose community schools to provide every child the opportunity to attend the school which serves their community supports the preventative approach by improving achievement and attainment of pupils and increasing their prospects of progressing onto positive destinations.

5.4 Involving Communities and Other Stakeholders

The content of this report has been subject to a community wide survey where all members of the local communities were able to participate. 4

5.5 Ensuring Equalities

An EQIA has previously been provided for the Newbattle Project.

5.6 Supporting Sustainable Development

The Communities involvement in the decision making process ensures that this decision will have a positive impact on long term sustainability.

5.7 Digital Services Issues

This report has no impact on Digital Services.

6 Recommendations

It is therefore recommended that Council approve the change of name from Newbattle Centre to Newbattle Community Campus with immediate effect.

11 May 2016

Report Contact: Maurice McCann Tel No: 0131 561 5422 E-mail: [email protected]

Background Papers: