Present: Mrs J Priest, Ms A Cosgrove, Mr J Robson, Ms L Kilpatrick, Mr B Craighead, Mr R Russel, Mrs J Ferguson, Dr J Pooley, Mr W Alder, Mrs P Stephen
In attendance: Cllr J Bell, Cllr P McLennan, PC D Aitchison, Sgt G Simpson
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE: Mr E Hill, Mrs K Moulin, Mrs A McDougall
2.0 MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING HELD ON 1 OCTOBER 2009
This was agreed to be a correct record of the meeting.
POLICE REPORT
There had been an incident of car crime at Longstone Avenue.
A drugs raid had taken place in Prestonkirk House on 30 October and a small quantity of cannabis found. Mrs Priest noted it was the second occasion the Police had been called out in a month and asked if it was possible to have a history of events at Prestonkirk. Although the Community Council had been supportive of the accommodation being made available for homeless people, this was sometimes at odds with the elderly residents nearby and had also affected the Day Centre and the Library on occasion.
On the traffic incident at Tyninghame Bridge, Dr Pooley stated that larger warning signs were needed at a greater distance from the bridge. Cllr McLennan would make enquiries.
There was discussion on the proposal to introduce a byelaw to prohibit drinking in public. Responses to the on-line survey had seen 7 people against and 5 in favour. There was some doubt about the area to be covered by the byelaw. Mrs Priest would contact Inspector Mackay for confirmation and the matter was deferred to the next meeting.
4.0 MATTERS ARISING
4.1 Roads/pavements
No response had yet been received from Brian Cooper of the Council’s Roads Department.The programme of installing speed cushions in the Dunpender Road area would begin in January.
Peter Forsyth had advised that the Braeview area was not specifically for residents’ parking.
4.2 Paths
Mrs Ferguson had not heard from Nick Morgan on a meeting in connection with the proposed path at Smeaton. She had attended site visits with John Gray, and two alternative paths had been identified. She would discuss with Robert Dale.
Keith Burns from the Local Access Forum would be invited to the next meeting to put his views forward on the reasons for the core path being through Smeaton.
The North Sea cycle route was estimated to cost £3m, so was likely to be on hold in the current economic climate.
Mrs Stephen had bought and distributed more Cycle Maps.
4.3 Dunpender News
The deadline for the next issue was Monday 16th November. There would be items on You Pay, Now Have Your Say; the Christmas Market; and an update on the residents’ survey. 71 responses had been received to the survey. Mrs Kilpatrick explained the questions.
Cllr McLennan would provide information to Mrs Priest on Dunbar First Responders.
He advised that it might be possible to have a Community Planning event in East Linton to take residents’ views into consideration.
4.4 Footbridge area
Bushes and trees have been planted.
4.5 ELDA article for November
Mr Russel will write this.
4.6 Community Planning Meeting
A list of priorities had been produced. A Community Planning officer for the ward would be appointed. The next meeting would be in March.
4.7 BeGreen Meetings
The last meeting had been missed due to non-notification. The possibility of co-opting an energy specialist on to DCC was suggested.
A meeting on 24th November on the possible future use of Myra’s Field was taking place in the Community Hall.
4.8 John Muir Country Park Advisory Group
Mr Russel had a report.
5.0 TREASURER’S REPORT/ LOCAL PRIORITIES BUDGET
The balance on the current account was £894.82, including a donation to the Senior Citizens Club, and a £200 donation to Phantassie Sound. East Linton postcards had raised £178.70.
A refund of £349.95 had been made for the Homecoming T-Shirts.
There was a balance of £3,853.29 in the Grants account, including payment for building work on the wall at the Rennie Memorial (to be recovered from the East Lothian Antiquarian Society) and payment for the upkeep of Jessie and the Fountain to Mr Govan which would be refunded by East Lothian Council.
Local Priorities
Pictures of the new electricity socket were available. This was upright and would not flood in wet weather.
A letter from Dunbar Grammar School was received, seeking assistance towards the annual 3rd year visit to the Battlefields. The School was unable to continue to support less well-off pupils. Agreed that a donation of £100 would be made.
6.0 TRAPRAIN AND WHITTINGEHAME ISSUES
BT had written enquiring if DCC would like to adopt three Phone Boxes. An article would be in Dunpender News to seek views.
A planning application was noted for 3 wind turbines at Standing Stones Farm.
7.0 TYNINGHAME, WHITEKIRK AND MARKLE ISSUES
Drainage investigations were imminent, with the road works due to take place by Christmas.
8.0 TOWN MAINTENANCE/TOURISM INITIATIVES
Dr Pooley is working on the Hailes Walk leaflet.
Mrs Stephen will proceed with the Christmas lights. It was decided that they should be switched on by the weekend of 4/5 December to be lit in time for the Christmas Market.
A Christmas Tree for Tyninghame is being considered.
Mrs Priest had contacted the firm designing the information board at Preston Road which will cost in the region of £2,000.
9.0 PLANNING MATTERS/ HOUSING SUB COMMITTEE
An planning application had been made for a wind turbine in a garden at Braehead. All to look at the plans.
The planning department had asked for DCC’s views on Phantassie Steading.
10.0 PUBLIC TRANSPORT/RAGES
Letters from the Minister of Transport had been received by all DCC members who had signed the postcards in RAGES’ campaign. The group was having a stall at the Christmas Market to try and get more cards signed.
11.0 CORRESPONDENCE
Haddington Twinning Association AGM 18 November
ASCC – Services to non members
Association for Protection of Rural Scotland information
ELC: Brand Dunbar Meeting 19 November
Civic Pride Deadline 30 November
ELPS information on Fairtrade Schools
Phone Call from the Library on proposed Budget Cuts
EL Bowling Club – thank you letter
12.0 ANY OTHER COMPETENT BUSINESS
Remembrance Day Wreath – Mr Craighead will lay the wreath on behalf of DCC.
Cllr McLennan explained the background to the Budget papers. Members noted that Local Priorities money was used to “lever in” other funds and would make this point during the consultation.
Phantassie Sound were on the shortlist for social entrepreneur funding.
13.0 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will be on Thursday, 3rd December 2009 at 7.30pm in the Council Chambers, East Linton.