UTILITY companies whose roadworks bring inconvenience to Borders communities now face additional charges for doing so.

At a meeting of the full council on Thursday, members endorsed a plan for its Estates Department to impose fees for the time and costs incurred in connection with third party requests for land or building sales, grant of servitudes, licences for temporary use and other property agreements.

It can now charge a fee of £600 (plus VAT as appropriate) which will be brought about in two stages – £300 following the initial enquiry, with the balance at the point of completion of the agreements.

It is estimated that £10,500 per annum will be added to the cash-strapped council’s coffers now the fees can be applied.

Councillor Simon Mountford, SBC’s executive member for planning and estates management, said: “This report really does what it says on the tin.

“We do have a very small team and all these requests do put a disproportionate burden on them.

“There are two benefits from this. Obviously income generation, estimated at £10,500 a year, but there is also a possible reduction in demand, allowing officers more time to get on with their priority work. That’s a win-win.

“There’s an old saying that if you ‘look after the pennies the pounds look after themselves’.

"While we may think £10,500 is relatively modest  it actually contributes to reducing the budget deficit.”

Councillor Julie Pirone, who represents Tweeddale East, added: “I am particularly keen that when utility companies are in our towns they give adequate payback when they dig up our streets or need roadworks that normally overrun.

“There’s an MP putting forward a bill that nobody overruns on their roadworks again.

“I do not think that those businesses understand the inconvenience that puts on our towns and villages and we have to make sure that if they are having to pay more money that may make them sit up and take notice of us.”