DUNPENDER COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Minutes of meeting held on 4th May 2006
at the Council Chambers, East Linton.
Present: Mrs J. Priest, Mr R Russel, Ms P Stephen, Ms L Kilpatrick, Ms J Boyd, Mr J. Robson
In attendance: Cllr. D Berry, Sgt. Bob Erskine, PC Bob Leslie
1.0 APOLOGIES: Ms J Pooley, Mrs M Alder, Mrs J Ferguson, Mrs L Shaw-Stewart , Ms A Cosgrove
Mr B Craighead, Ms A Ingram
2.0 MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING HELD ON 6th MARCH 2006
It was noted that it had been PC Bob Leslie in attendance at the last meeting and not Sgt Bob Erskine.
Otherwise it was agreed to be a correct record of the meeting.
3.0 POLICE REPORT
Sgt Bob Erskine reported that he had spoken to the quad biker who has been causing a disturbance at Markle and the Longstone Avenue area. The bike is road legal, but he was advised to stop using it in these areas. The problem seems to have stopped.
Enquiries continue regarding the theft of the mini JCB at Kamehill.
On 7th and 8th April, doors were attempted at Braeheads. No entry was gained.
A report of a male going round doors in the area for charity was checked out and all was above board.
On Sunday evening a large window was broken in a bungalow in Kingsburgh Gardens. The area was searched and enquiries were made, but no leads were obtained.
It has been a quiet month. The CAT (Community Action Team) has been in the village, often in plain clothes. The scheme was only intended to run in the short term but has been so successful that it will continue.
Dog fouling continues to be a problem. At East Linton School the P5 pupils are going to design posters encouraging people to clean up after their dogs as part of the John Muir Award.
Mrs Priest asked what the public could do about drivers spotted using mobile phones behind the wheel. Sgt Erskine informed her that it takes two people to report it before anything can be done.
4.0 MATTERS ARISING
4.1 Highways Matters
It was noted that there is a new red strip in place on theA198 to highlight the approach to Tyninghame. It was agreed that a red strip is also needed for the entrance from East Linton. New red strips are already in place in Whitekirk.
Cllr. Berry raised the subject of the impact of the new A1 on casual tourism. A vehicle counter in place at Tyninghame shows a 10% drop in traffic since the opening of the new road.
4.2 Public toilets
The fire brigade had to force the door of the public toilets to release a boy who got locked in. They are still operating however. A surveillance camera has been costed at £2500 by ELC and they are looking at possible sources of funding.
4.3 Path across Park
Mrs Priest contacted Colin Baird (Transportation) to ask if there is any money in the Safer Routes to School budget for the path across the park. There are potentially 80 children using the path. He has replied to say that this project will be added to the list to be presented to Cabinet.
4.4 Dunpender News
Ms Pooley sent word that there is a delay with the graphics department at ELC and Dunpender News will not be out until the end of June. There are new walks in Oak Wood, opposite Binning Wood, which will be mentioned in the new issue.
4.5 Rubble in field behind School
There was no progress to report.
5.0 TYNINGHAME, WHITEKIRK AND MARKLE ISSUES
· Mrs Priest informed the Council that there had been a complaint, which had arisen as a result of the wording of the minute of the February meeting. Mr Wason was under the impression that SEPA had been in contact with the Community Council and residents asking for complaints.
Mrs Priest emphasised that this had not been the case and tabled a letter she had written to Brian Healey at SEPA, saying,
“ I confirm that this is not the case. SEPA have not been in contact with DCC to ask for complaints of any kind.
The minute was a resume of a discussion among members in which it was agreed that residents in the area, if affected by smells, should provide evidence of the problem by complaining direct to SEPA and it was agreed to circulate contact details for SEPA to residents. This was a conclusion reached by our discussion and was not referring to any request from SEPA, written or otherwise, for complaints.”
It is hoped that this will clarify the matter.
· Mrs Boyd has canvassed Tyninghame residents about entering Scotland in Bloom. She has had 13 interested replies and has agreed to take it forward. Mrs Priest will ask David Affleck to talk to Tyninghame residents.
· Cllr Berry informed the Council that there has been a Planning Application for a total of 48 houses in the Whitekirk area and for a golf course and a 100-room hotel.
· Mrs Kilpatrick asked that if anyone sees a red squirrel, could they please report it to the Ranger.
6.0 TRAPRAIN AND WHITTINGEHAME ISSUES
· Mrs Shaw-Stewart will fix the notice board at Whittingehame.
7.0 PUBLIC TRANSPORT/RAGES
The sub-committee has not been able to meet.
Cllr Berry reported that this summer, there would be an hourly shuttle bus from the Seabird Centre to the Museum of Flight, free to ticket holders.
There is a new bus timetable available, including the extended X8 service.
There is to be a change to the timetable at North Berwick High School and school will be starting 6 minutes earlier. This may affect the 120 bus.
8.0 YOUTH MATTERS
There was no youth report tonight. Miss Ingram has asked if it is possible for the football goal posts to be made suitable for rugby as well. Mrs Priest will find out.
9.0 TREASURER’S REPORT
Mr Robson reported that the accounts are being audited at present.
The Current Account stands at £194.72, with a further £542 due in June.
The Grants Account stands at £4,785.73.
10.0 LOCAL PRIORITIES BUDGET/GRANT APPLICATIONS
The Local Priorities budget will be £5930 for 2006/07. Last year’s budget was £8450, showing a reduction of just under 30%.
At the Local Priorities sub-meeting, it was decided that neither Dunpender News nor Christmas lights costs could realistically be reduced. The new East Linton and Walks leaflets will cost £1500 and £1300 respectively. It may be possible to get funding for some of the other items such as streetlights, finger posts and the entrance pillar.
Ms Stephen will contact Lilian Pryde to discuss whether hiring an advisor to discuss housing is an allowable use of funds.
11.0 TOWN MAINTENANCE/TOURISM INITIATIVES
Benches
The new benches have been installed and photographed.
Entrances
Laura Mackenzie is working on the entrance pillars and will liaise with Peter Forsyth. It may be possible to get funding from the Community Environmental Fund.
Leaflets
Mrs Kilpatrick brought a draft of the new East Linton leaflet. It was agreed to be most agreeable, but requiring more pictures of a larger size.
The walks leaflet stock has run out. There are a couple of amendments needed. 5000 new copies will cost £1310. Mrs Ferguson will go ahead with this.
Information Boards
The History Society is producing information boards; Mr Russel is helping with the planning application.
Rennie Memorial
Ms Stephen has had a look at the memorial. She feels it is in not too bad a state of repair. However, there are two cracks where it has subsided. This will need to be repaired, but not urgently. Ms Stephen will write to the Royal Society of Civil Engineers.
12.0 PLANNING MATTERS/HOUSING SUB-COMMITTEE
There was nothing to report tonight.
13.0 CORRESPONDENCE
13.1 SEPA view March/April 2006
13.2 G Menzies: website
13.3 Scotways Newsletter Spring 2006
13.4 Calor Community of the Year Awards
13.5 Bass Notes
13.6 FoE: What on Earth Spring 2006
13.7 ELC: East Lothian Heritage Forum
13.8 ELC: Countryside Forum. Mr Russel to attend.
13.9 ELC: Litter Initiative – Good Citizen Campaign
13.10 RL Stevenson Festival in North Berwick.
14.0 ANY OTHER COMPETENT BUSINESS
The paintings from the Council Chambers have now been cleaned and are ready to go in the library. A short ‘unveiling’ event is planned for Gala week.
Mr Robson has purchased a trophy for the East Linton Arts Crafts and Flowers Society. He has also had it engraved.
Cllr Berry reminded the Council that the East Lothian boundaries are changing.
15.0 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting and AGM will be on Thursday, 1st June 2006 at 7.30pm in the Council Chambers, East Linton.
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