The events, which start in August and continue through September, will give members of the public across the Borders an opportunity to meet and talk to their local Councillors and senior officers of the Council to discuss what matters to them in their local communities.

The first event takes place in Galashiels on Tuesday 22 August in Galashiels Academy.

An additional element to this year’s Community Conversations will include holding sessions in schools with a selected group of school-aged members of the community, inviting them to share their views on education, leisure, transport or any other topic they would like to bring to the attention of their local Councillors or Council.

Live Borders will also join the series of events, supporting the ongoing stakeholder sessions, seeking the views of communities to help shape the future of the public sport, leisure and cultural services and facilities in their area.

Council leader, Councillor Euan Jardine, who will attend all of the events along with Ward Councillors and senior management from the council, said: “The Community Conversations will see us return to towns across the region. Some of the conversations last year led to some positive change and fed into our Council Plan 2024.

“I would encourage anyone who wants to help shape the future of their community, who has a question or issue they would like to discuss or would like to find out more about the Council, to come along to one of the events in their area.”

Community Conversations are not formal presentations or Q&A sessions, they are planned to facilitate and encourage 1 to 1 or small group conversations in a relaxed environment. Members of the public can drop-in at any time during the three hour evening slot. As these sessions are taking place in local high schools, we would encourage young people and families to come along.

Dates and locations of all the Community Conversations can be found here.