Scottish Borders Council

What Scottish Borders Council does

Scottish Borders Council is a statutory local government authority in Scotland, established in 1996 under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, headquartered at Newtown St Boswells, Melrose. The council delivers a comprehensive range of mandated public services — including education (across 9 school clusters serving 18,000+ pupils), social care for adults, older people and children/families, waste and recycling (86,000+ households), planning and building standards, roads and transport, housing, benefits administration, libraries and cultural services, registration services, and emergency planning — to approximately 116,900 residents and local businesses across the Scottish Borders region, structured around 11 electoral wards and 5 Area Partnerships (Berwickshire, Cheviot, Eildon, Teviot and Liddesdale, and Tweeddale).

The council operates a digital-first service delivery model anchored by the MyScotBorders online account portal, which enables residents to request, track, and pay for services, manage Council Tax, and submit forms 24/7. Supporting platforms include the ePlanning portal for planning and building warrant applications, standalone online request/report/pay tools, and the CitizenSpace consultation platform for community engagement. The council employs 501–1,000 staff and outsources library, cultural and leisure services through its Arm's Length External Organisation (ALEO), Live Borders. The technology stack is otherwise conventional: standard third-party integrations (Google Analytics, Facebook, Flickr, YouTube, Twitter), with no proprietary AI/ML capability or advanced platform architecture disclosed.

The council's revenue model is publicly funded and non-commercial: Scottish Government revenue grants (up only 2% while capital funding fell 15% for 2026/27), Council Tax levied on property valuation bands A–H (raised 7.7% on average to address a Scotland-wide £529 million budget gap), and transactional service fees for planning, licensing, business rates, and venue hire. Distribution is direct-to-citizen via a multi-channel GTM combining digital self-service, physical contact centres, library and community facilities, and area-partnership-based community engagement. The council is governed by elected councillors, is accountable to residents through democratic processes rather than private shareholders, and pursues strategic development in partnership with the UK Government, NHS Borders, South of Scotland Enterprise, and the Borderlands Partnership on cross-border economic initiatives.

Name

Scottish Borders Council

Legal name

Scottish Borders Council

Website

https://scotborders.gov.uk

Company type

Public

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Scottish Borders Council is a statutory Scottish local authority established in 1996, delivering mandated public services — including education, social care, waste management, planning, and roads — to approximately 116,900 residents and local businesses across the Scottish Borders region through digital and physical service channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Local Government Public Services

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (9251), Administration of Housing Programs (925110)

SIC

Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

State/Provincial Transportation, Roads & Public Works Administration (BPAIABAK)

Keywords

• Local government services
• Council tax administration
• Public service delivery
• Waste and recycling collection
• Community planning and housing

Headquarters

HQ city

Scottish Borders

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Scottish Government Revenue Funding: Primary funding from Scottish Government, which increased by only 2% while capital funding fell by 15%. This represents the core funding for council services.
2. Council Tax: Local taxation raised from residents, with councils increasing council tax by an average of 7.7% to address budget gaps. Council Tax Reduction schemes available for eligible residents.
3. Service Fees and Charges: Various fees for services including planning applications, building warrants, licenses, business rates, hall/venue hire, and other council services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Scottish Borders Council is the statutory local authority for the Scottish Borders region of Scotland, delivering mandatory local government services including council tax administration, housing and council tax benefits, waste and recycling collection, school and nursery provision, social care, planning and building standards, roads maintenance, civil registration, licensing, and emergency planning. Services are primarily delivered direct to residents and businesses through the MyScotBorders digital portal, supported by physical contact centres, libraries (operated via Live Borders), and online request/report/pay systems.

Product overview

Scottish Borders Council provides a comprehensive suite of local government public services delivered through a digital-first approach. The primary digital product is MyScotBorders, an online account portal enabling residents to access and track council services. The council operates a multi-channel service delivery model combining website-based self-service (for council tax, planning applications, benefits, waste collection scheduling), outsourced partnerships (Live Borders for libraries, MyJobScotland for employment), and traditional in-person services via contact centres. Key service categories include social care, education, planning, waste management, roads, and emergency services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MyScotBorders Online Account Portal Online account portal allowing residents to request and track council services, view Council Tax, complete saved forms, and apply for school or nursery places. Targeted at residents of Scottish Borders.
• Council Tax Administration and Payment Administration and online payment of Council Tax (bands A–H), direct debit setup, change of circumstances reporting, and Council Tax Reduction applications for eligible residents.
• Planning and Building Standards Services Online planning application submission and commenting, pre-application guidance, building warrant applications, renewable energy information, and local development plans delivered via the ePlanning portal. Targeted at residents, developers, and businesses.
• Waste and Recycling Services Kerbside waste and recycling collection serving 86,000+ households, collection calendars, community recycling centres, missed collection reporting, trade waste services, and deposit return scheme administration.
• Social Care and Health Services Adult and older people's social care, children and families services, carers support, self-directed support, and What Matters Hubs providing community assistance. Targeted at vulnerable residents and their families.
• Schools and Learning Services School and nursery place applications, term and holiday dates, school finder, community learning, school meals, and education trust information across 9 school clusters serving 18,000+ pupils.
• Benefits and Grants Administration Housing benefit, council tax reduction, crisis grants, community care grants, and benefit entitlement checking for eligible residents.
• Roads, Travel and Parking Services Pothole and street light fault reporting, blue badge applications, bus pass applications, and road works information for residents and visitors.
• Business Rates and Licensing Services Business rates payment, business advice and support, licence applications, trading standards, and procurement information for local businesses operating in Scottish Borders.
• Birth, Marriage and Death Registration Registration of births, marriages and civil partnerships, deaths, certificate copies, and burials and cemeteries services for residents.
• Emergencies and Safety Services Winter weather updates, flooding advice, emergency planning, child protection, and adult protection services for residents of the region.
• Library and Cultural Services (Live Borders) Library locations and opening times, mobile library routes, family history research, computer and internet access, and eLibrary services delivered through Live Borders, the council's Arm's Length External Organisation.
• Job Application Services (MyJobScotland) Online job applications and job alerts for vacancies at Scottish Borders Council delivered through the MyJobScotland portal.

Quantifiable outcome

• 86,000+ households served with waste collection services
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• UK GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Scottish and UK governments agreed to share the £10 million cost of a feasibility study for the Borders Railway extension from Tweedbank to Carlisle as part of the Borderlands Growth Deal. The strategic outline business case is expected to be delivered by late 2027.
• NHS BorderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHS Borders is a key Community Planning Partner working with the council on health and social care integration, public health initiatives, and the Director of Public Health Report.
• Live BorderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArm's Length External Organisation (ALEO) delivering library services, cultural services, sports facilities, and events. Libraries and related services transferred to Live Borders operation.
• Community Planning PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership including Police Scotland, NHS Borders, Scottish Fire and Rescue, voluntary sector organizations, and other public bodies working together on Community Planning outcomes for the Scottish Borders.
• South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSOSE is referenced as part of the regional economic strategy framework, contributing to the South Of Scotland Regional Economic Strategy and regional prosperity framework.
• Borderlands PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBorderlands Inclusive Growth Deal bringing together Scottish and UK government investment for cross-border economic development including the Borders Railway extension feasibility.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Fife Council: Mid-sized Scottish local authority operating MyFife online portal comparable to MyScotBorders. Similar service portfolio across education, social care, waste, planning, and roads.
• Highland Council: Another large rural Scottish local authority serving a geographically dispersed population (~235,000) with comparable statutory service mandates, council tax structure, and budget pressures. Most relevant peer given similar rural delivery cost dynamics and reliance on central government funding.
• Dumfries and Galloway Council: Neighbouring southern Scotland rural council with similar demographics, statutory service portfolio, and Borderlands Growth Deal partnership involvement. Direct partner in the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal alongside Scottish Borders Council.
• Perth and Kinross Council: Mid-sized Scottish rural/urban-mix local authority with comparable service scope, council tax banding, and budget pressures. Similar headcount range and population profile to Scottish Borders Council.
• South Lanarkshire Council: Comparable mid-sized Scottish local authority with similar budget scale and statutory service mandate. Faces the same sector-wide budget gap pressures and demographic challenges.
• Aberdeenshire Council: Large rural Scottish local authority with comparable statutory mandate and dispersed population service challenges. Operates similar MyCouncil-style digital portals and faces analogous capital funding pressures.

Regional players

• Northumberland County Council: English county-level local authority on the Scottish Borders, participating in the Borderlands Growth Deal. Comparable rural geography and cross-border economic development mandate, though operating under English local government law and funding regime.
• Cumberland Council: English unitary authority on the southern side of the Borderlands, partner in the Borderlands Growth Deal. Comparable rural service delivery profile and population scale to Scottish Borders Council, though with different funding mechanisms.

Broad incumbents

• Live Borders: Arm's Length External Organisation (ALEO) of Scottish Borders Council delivering libraries, cultural services, sports facilities, and events. Directly comparable as a council-controlled delivery vehicle, providing cultural and leisure services on behalf of the council.
• South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE): Scottish Government economic development agency covering the same geographic region. Direct strategic partner of Scottish Borders Council on the South of Scotland Regional Economic Strategy and Borderlands Growth Deal.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BordersRblx
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ScotBordersCouncil
• Facebookfacebook.com/sbcouncil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Scottish Borders Council