held on Thursday 2nd February at 7.30pm in The Stables
Present: Mrs J Priest Mr N Morland Mr E Martin
Mr R Russel Mr D Wight Mrs A Cosgrove
In attendance: Ms A Hunter (minutes), Anthony Jeffrey, Eileen Gill, Verity Sinclair
1. Apologies: Mrs L Shaw-Stewart, Cllr L Jardine, Cllr D Collins, Cllr N Hampshire,
Cllr C MacFarlane, Ms A Pearson, Mr J Swift, Mrs V Hoban, Mr R Cramb
2. Minutes of meeting held 5th January were agreed.
3. Police Report
Cardboard cops have been deployed and speed checks undertaken but no offences detected. Many of the calls to police relate to broken down vehicles or parking issues. In January police have investigated the theft of a motor vehicle, two cases of theft and one of extortion. CAPP priorities are speeding and visibility of cyclists.
4. Matters Arising
4.1. Markle Crossing/Station
Mr Morland informed the meeting that the planning application for the bridge to replace Markle Crossing is available on ELC planning website. There is no further information on the land sale. Mrs Priest reported that the disputed land for the station car park does belong to the residents of Andrew Meikle Grove who have requested it be restored to original condition. Peter Forsyth (ELC) has indicated there may be a revised planning application reducing the number of parking spaces but suggested Network Rail have contingency plans in place.
4.2. Local Place Plan (LPP)
Mr Morland will attend a Webinar on 10th Feb about an online tool to assist in development of the LPP. He suggested external expertise would be required to gather statistics and produce literature to assist in consultations with business owners and residents and this would require funding. Cllr Jardine was investigating possible ELC funding but has not responded as yet. Mr Martin suggested if there was a specific project identified an application could be made to North Berwick and Coastal Area Partnership.
4.3. AELCC - Community Benefits Proposal meeting 30th January
Mr Wight reported on the offers from Belltown Power (Newlands Hill). 1% equity is offered to local communities with a further 4% equity at cost (nominal less than market). It was suggested that the 1% equity would provide funding to purchase the remaining 4%.
Alasdair Swan (Dunbar Community Council) is leading on determining the structure of the group responsible for the community benefit fund and whether this should be a charity, limited company or community interest company. Chris Bruce (East Lammermuir Community Council) is leading the drafting of the purpose and goals of this group. Consensus was reached that the benefit should apply to the whole of East Lothian.
4.4. Meetings Attended
4.4.1. DELAP AGM upcoming.
Mrs Cosgrove will stand for the position of vice-chair and CAEL will apply to become full members in order to boost East Linton representation. Mr Russel will enquire if The Dean Residents Association wishes to apply for membership.
4.5. Preston Road
Mr Wight presented a proposal put together with the assistance of Philippa Swan from Dunbar Community Council to widen the pavement and create a single carriageway prioritising traffic from one direction. The plan meets key criteria for traffic control by priority signs in that:
• the speed limit is 60 mph or less: here it is 20 mph
• the length of the works from first cone to last cone is 80 metres or less;
• two-way traffic flow is no more than 42 vehicles counted over 3 minutes (840 veh/h); and
• drivers approaching from either direction have visibility before and beyond the works.
DCC will propose to ELC, through DELAP, to run a trial of this system for 6 months, using temporary bollards, akin to Spaces for People initiatives.
Cllr Jardine has indicated she will support the proposal.
4.6. Footpaths
4.6.1. Longstone ROW - drainage, grant
No update.
4.7. Linton Brig Repair and Stonework
Mrs Priest reported on the following update from ELC.
Linton Linn Bridge is a listed structure and reconstruction of the lost section of parapet is to be in matching stone. We have managed to salvage some blocks for reuse, but need to procure suitable stone and block sizes for our rebuild. A suitable matching stone source has been identified. Repair at this bridge is a priority but not date is available at this time. Once on site work should take about a week during which time the road will be closed to traffic and buses diverted; pedestrian access will be maintained.
4.8. Media Facebook etc.
Mr Cramb has created a Facebook page. Contact details including phone and e-mail (if agreed by individual members) will be added. It was agreed that messages would come direct through the page but no ability given to comment on posts. Mrs Priest has set up a Gmail account and Mr Martin is investigating use of e-mail addresses that are attached to the domain name that has been registered.
4.9. Lothian Broadband
Mrs Priest reported on the responses from Lothian Broadband to residentsí concerns raised with MSPs.
Sales tactics: Lothian Broadband is operating a highly challenging business model; targeting only previously underserved areas of Scotland left behind by traditional fibre network operators. Given this unusual operating model, a more conventional sales approach would be ineffective; going directly to the people that will benefit most from the roll out informs more people, more quickly, hence our use of direct sales.
Can have do not knock option on the list
Mess: Works have not been signed off. Our contractor will return and pick defects up.†We will also perform a sign-off walkout and pick up any remaining issues before finally doing a full walkout with our contractors.
Monopoly: The only way to viably build networks in these areas is to pass on a significant cost to the end user which we avoid doing by utilising the UK Gigabit Voucher Scheme. However, this scheme is limited in the number of vouchers as well as having an expiration date hence if we cannot install customers using the vouchers while they are available then we would have to look at charging an installation cost. In terms of sharing our cables we are a private business who does not have a dominant market position so the regulatory conditions that apply to Openreach do not apply to us. Regarding the SNIB(Scottish National Investment Bank) investment (£20m) this is not a case of us being given public money but being invested in based on the conditions and forecasted outcomes of our business case ultimately to generate a positive return on that investment.
It was concluded that response from Lothian Broadband was poor and they have not recognized the upset in the community caused by the tone and manner of the sales force and the disruption caused by the work. Meetings with the companyís community relations officer were cancelled and no alternative provided. DCC is waiting for a meeting with Gavin Rodgers, CEO of Lothian Broadband.
Mrs Priest reported that the street lights at the Co-op are out because of damage caused by Lothian Broadbandís contractor.
5. Finance - cash for 2x defibrillator cabinets and pads
Mr Martin reported an account balance of £516.22.
Two new defibrillator cabinets have been purchased (1 for Tyninghame and 1 for the Community Hall) along with new pads and batteries for the hall. The defibrillator from the hall has been recovered from the Paramedics after it was used. Ms Pearson will investigate notices informing of the location of these devices.
6. Traprain/Markle/Whittingehame
Mr Morland reported that Markle residents are interested in the outcome of the planning application for the replacement bridge.
7. Tyninghame/Whitekirk
Mr Wight reported on a successful Burns Night which raised money for Tyninghame Hall. He has received no response from Keith Scott (ELC) on installation of the traffic calming measures which now have funding. Mr Martin reported on a similar lack of response from ELC on moving the speed sign in Whitekirk. Doug Haig from North Berwick and Coastal Area Partnership has offered to contact ELC. Mr Wight will provide details to Mr Martin on the Tyninghame issue and will also contact local councillors.
Mr Martin reported that ELC have provided a new grit bin however they uplifted the wrong bin and the broken bin is still in Whitekirk.
8. Planning Matters
Mrs Shaw-Stewart met with Tommy Dale and provided the following update.
The old Auction Mart is owned and run by Tommy Dale so licensing and everything to do with that building is entirely his responsibility. He is in pre planning talks with the council about adding lavatories and some storage at the back of the building. He is finding it quite hard to find uses for the building as there are quite a lot of planning restrictions and the architecture, size and site make it difficult to let. (There is no heating and no insulation). He is aware that it is surrounded by housing so it is tricky as an evening venue. He has made a positive decision to rent all the units and the farm shop out to local businesses at affordable rents - hence the use of containers and sheds which makes this business model viable. He is very keen that the whole area works to benefit the local community.
He has a waiting list for his units and plans to develop more of the same in the area which is currently being used by the station contractors.†There will be foot access through to the Mart ground from the station.† I am going to suggest that he puts some grit down in the car park if it gets icy.
Mr Martin reported that Tommy Dale has purchased Whitekirk Church to run as a multi faith wedding venue and is now looking for additional land for parking.
In Mr Swiftís absence Mr Morland offered to be initial contact for planning matters.
9. Projects - Water point
Mrs Cosgrove is in negotiation with Scottish Water who have agreed to consider a tap in East Linton if a location can be agreed. The agreed location is beside the Noble notice board. Mr Russel will assist with the planning application.
10. Correspondence
10.1 11/01 PCarmichael: grit bin request
10.2 11/01 K Macaskill: LB
10.3 11/01 Cllr Collins: LB
10.4 13/01 ELHSCP: Belhaven hospital update
10.5 16/01 ELC P Forsyth: PP for Markle crossing
10.6 16/01 C Axon(M Whitfield): LB
10.7 19/01 Papple Steading newsletter
10.8 20/01 AELCC: Community Benefit proposals
10.9 20/01 Cllr Jardine: (A1) Strategic priorities
10.10 23/01 CCouncils: Webinar on Community Map Scotland 2pm 10th Feb
A request for a grit bin in Orchard Court has been denied as the location doesnít meet ELC criteria.
There is nothing in this area within the strategic priorities for the A1.
Verity Sinclair reported that Papple Steading are pleased the planning permission was granted and are happy to discuss any issues brought forward by residents. Concerns about flooding cannot be resolved by Papple Steading alone as it is caused by flooding from local fields.
11. Any Other Business - DCC meeting place, Vacancy for new member
In the absence of other suitable locations for meetings DCC will continue to meet in The Stables until the new school is ready when the hope is to have the use of a public meeting room.
Mrs Priest will circulate details and then advertise for a new DCC member.
th February. He will collate these and select the top three.
Mr Russel raised the issue of the hole in the High Street. He has contacted Class 1 Traffic Management to have the barriers re-erected. Mr Jeffries stated the sign on the barrier says "Morrisons for SSE". Mr Russel will chase for a progress report.
12. Date of next meeting: Thursday 2nd March 2023