DUNPENDER COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Minutes of meeting held on 1st April 2004
in the Council Chambers, East Linton
Present: Mrs J. Priest, Mrs J Ferguson, Ms J Pooley, Mrs J Boyd
In Attendance: Cllr. Broun-Lindsay, P.C. K Hughes, 2 members of the public
1.0 Apologies: Cllr. D. Berry, Ms A Cosgrove, Mrs M. Alder, Mr J Robson
2.0 The minute of the meeting of 4th March was agreed to be a correct record.
3.0 POLICE REPORT
PC Hughes apologised for the lack of a Police Presence at the last meeting. He had been on leave and his colleague PC Leslie was on a day off.
As per the minutes of the meeting held on 8th of January 2004, PC Hughes stated that he has attended at Tyninghame whenever possible. He has not noted any severe problems with regards to the speeding problem mentioned by Mrs Boyd. The vehicles do appear to be travelling fast, but are mostly under the speed limit, which is still 60 miles per hour.
With regards to the minutes of the meeting held on 4th March 2004, PC Hughes confirmed Councillor Berry’s comment regarding the new Force Communications Centre. Persons trying to contact local Police Stations can do so by dialling the existing station telephone numbers. They will then be diverted to the relevant station.
Incidents from the end of January into February 2004 have been added to this month’s Police report.
1. On 31st January a drink driver was caught when his vehicle was spotted by a passing patrol in School Road. The driver was later bailed to appear at Haddington Sheriff Court on charges of Drink Driving.
1. On 1st February a taxi fraud was committed on the High Street. A male has since been reported for the offence.
1. On 12th February a motor vehicle was broken into whilst it was parked in The Dean. Persons unknown smashed the front nearside window by use of a stone, reached in and stole a handbag and contents.
1. On 23rd of February a complaint of assault was received which occurred outside the youth club disco. A report will be submitted in relation to this in the near future.
1. On 28th February a complaint of assault was received which occurred on the High Street. This is being investigated.
1. On the 29th Feb a call was received regarding two males fighting within a house on the High Street. The matter was resolved on Police arrival.
March was a quiet month with only a few notable incidents.
1. Between 1930 and 2130 hours on 26th, 27th and 28th of March PC Hughes carried out foot patrols of the East Linton area. The village was very quiet with few youths around at all. He did however catch two males messing around on the roof of Macarthur’s Yard. They were suitably warned regarding their actions.
2. On 28th March a complaint regarding a smashed window in Mill Wynd was received. This was reported for insurance purposes only.
3. On 31st March the Dunbar Traffic Warden, TW Gordon, and PC Hughes carried out speed checks on the High Street. They were early morning checks to catch any speeding commuters. One driver was warned regarding the use of his fog lights. Numerous persons quickly put on their seat belts when the police were noticed.
4. On Thursday 1st April TW Gordon and PC Hughes carried out Hand Held Radar checks between 0730 and 0845 hours on High Street, Edinburgh Road, Preston Road and Drylaw Terrace. One driver was warned re driving at 47 mph in a 30-mph zone.
A member of the public asked what is the policy on enforcing the new dog fouling laws. P.C. Hughes replied that it is hard to enforce due to lack of manpower, but that there are dog wardens operating and civilians may report incidents to the police or to Crimestoppers. Ideally, there would be two witnesses, in which case a charge could be made.
4.0 MATTERS ARISING
4.1 Zebra Crossing
Since last meeting, there have been various correspondences regarding the zebra crossing, including a letter from Scott Turner sent to parents via the schoolchildren. An informal meeting was held on 16 March, chaired by Cllr Broun-Lindsay and attended by Mrs Priest, Mr Turner, Mrs Stephenson, Mrs Boyd, Ms Stephen and Mrs Shaw-Stewart in order to exchange views and establish facts. A letter from the School Board (see 11.15) indicated that they were disappointed with the decision made by the Council regarding the Zebra Crossing. It was agreed that there is seen to be a problem of speeding traffic in the village but the Council feels that a zebra crossing would not be the best answer to this. P.C. Hughes said that the worst speeding problems occur coming into the village by Dunpender Road and Edinburgh Road. He also feels that there is a difference between perceived speed and actual speed.
To ascertain the extent of the problem in the High Street, it was decided to use System 2000 to monitor speed over a period of time. P.C. Hughes will get System 2000 in place as soon as possible.
Mrs Priest will reply to the School Board, saying that the Council will collect the data and take it from there. She will also ask Peter Forsyth what the requirements are for installing a 20mph speed limit.
4.2 Vacancies/ Election
The forthcoming election will take place on Thursday 6th May. All members of the Council wishing to seek re-election were asked to take a Nomination form.
4.3 Paths
Mrs. Ferguson will apply to Transforming Your Space for funding to upgrade the river walk from Stories Park.
(See 11.9) Scottish Business in the Community are looking for suitable projects needing volunteer help and skills – Mrs Ferguson will reply with regard to the steps on the Hailes Castle path.
Ms Pooley has heard from Cycle Scotland that they are looking for projects to fund. They require numbers of people using bikes in the area. Ms Pooley to reply.
4.4 Speed Bumps Rennie Place
(See 11.14) A letter from Mrs O’Donnell informed the council that she is canvassing opinion in the area regarding the speed bumps. An email was received from Dunpender residents opposed to the speedbumps.(See 11.19)
4.5 Website
Mr McLean would like to change the website to www.dunpender.net or dunpender.info and has suggested that the Council should own the domain. It was agreed that this would be a good idea.
4.6 Dunpender News
The next edition will have a pull out information sheet, giving more room for other copy. It was agreed that the Wordsearch had been a success and another should be included in the next edition. Requests for contributions to be sent out, deadline early May.
5.0 PLANNING MATTERS
There was no Planning report tonight due to the absence of Ms Stephen.
6.0 YOUTH MATTERS
Regrettably, the youth club in East Linton has packed up due to the leaders’ work commitments. (See 11.18) The youth club funds will be distributed amongst the various youth groups in the village. £200 will be kept in trust for the future set up of a new youth club. The equipment will be available for the use of other groups and the disco unit has been given to Aberlady youth club. It was agreed that Dan and Annette McLean have done a great job with the youth club in East Linton.
7.0 TREASURER’S REPORT
Ms. Cosgrove was absent from the meeting. (See 11.17) A request for funding from the Community Assn will be discussed at the next meeting, as there were insufficient members present to take a vote. (Mrs Priest, as Chair of the Community Assn, would not be part of the vote.)
8.0 LOCAL PRIORITIES/CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT GRANT
Cllr Broun-Lindsay is waiting to hear from Lillian Pryde regarding this year’s funding. Money allocated for Local Priorities is to be increased.
9.0 TOWN MAINTENANCE
Ms. Boyd reported that the application to Transforming Your Space for funding for the Playpark was unsuccessful. Information from the Scottish Executive indicates that funding is more likely to be given to a charity, that often, match funding is more likely to be given and that the end of the financial year is a bad time to be applying.
Viridor Landfill Tax remains a possibility for funding for the park, Ms Boyd and Mrs Ferguson to investigate. Also, Mrs Priest to contact Geddes at Markle Quarry.
Completion date for the toilets in the park is unknown.
10.0 TOURISM INITIATIVES / SCOTLAND IN BLOOM
Mrs. Priest reported that the new street signs are now ready. Property will put them up.
Mrs Shaw-Stewart had organised a meeting regarding the Square. This was well attended by residents of the Square and others. As a result, it was decided to keep the grass, renew the pavement and form a planter using the low wall.
Planning Permission for the new set of drawings will be re-applied for.
11.0 CORRESPONDENCE
11.1 ELC: Notice of Meetings
11.2 Bass Notes
11.3 Community Enterprise news
11.4 Re: Solution 2004 sustainable Community Initiatives.
11.5 ASCC : Notice of AGM 12.6.04
11.6 EL Tenants and Residents Panel Newsletter March 2004
11.7 SE : Consultation on fees for supplying information
11.8 SE : Consultation on Scottish Rural Partnership Fund
11.9 Scottish Business in the Community volunteer scheme
11.10 Minutes of Traprain Law Advisory Group meeting and Annual Report
11.11 John Muir Country Park Advisory Group – minutes and Annual Report
11.12 AELCC General Meeting on Funding 6.4.04
11.13 Marine Conservation Society Newsletter
11.14 J. O’Donnell: Rennie Place speed bumps
11.15 E.L. School Board: Traffic calming in High Street
11.16 A Baker (email): Suggestions on communication methods. It was agreed to discuss this at the next meeting
11.17 E.L.Community Assn: request for funding for hall
11.18 E.L Youth Club: Distribution of funds
11.19 R&V Adam(email): opposition to Dunpender Road speed bumps
11.20 Longstone Avenue Residents Assn: AGM/ Constitution
12.0 OTHER COMPETENT BUSINESS
· A member of the public present at the meeting said that he had never realised meetings were actually public before. It was suggested to display this fact on the front of the next issue of Dunpender News.
· Mrs Pooley is investigating a suitable location in Whitekirk for recycling facilities, which have been offered by ELC. In Tyninghame, recycling bins could also be placed behind the Hall, Ms Boyd is looking into this.
· Mrs Priest informed the Council that East Linton is to be used as a pilot study for read-outs on bus shelters to say when the next bus is coming.
· Mrs Ferguson will write a letter of support to the campaign to save our hospital services and support our GP’s.
11.0 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Due to the elections on the 6th May, the next meeting will be on Thursday 13th May at 7.30pm in the Council Chambers, East Linton. |
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