Present: Mrs J Priest Mr E Martin Ms A Pearson Mrs E Gill Mrs L Shaw-Stewart Mr H Thomas Mrs A Cosgrove
In attendance: Ms A Hunter (minutes), John Kinnaird, Martin Askey, Anthony Jeffries, Peter Beckman
1. Apologies: Mr D Wight, Mr R Russel, Cllr L Jardine
2. Minutes of meeting held on 3rd October September were agreed.
3. Police Report/CAPP
No report received.
4. Matters Arising
4.1. Community Action and Local Place Plan
ELC will help to revise the maps so that they include all the suggestions referred to in our recommendations (a Scottish Government requirement). We may need to amend the invitation to comment on the draft LPP and re-circulate it to councilors and adjoining community councils.
4.2. Balfour Beatty - Community Benefits Projects
No update.
4.3. Paths - Mill Lade, Noble Gardens
Mill Lade - community payback team due to start work this week.
Ms Pearson reported that the wall on the Pencraig path will be repaired after Christmas.
4.4. Vacancies
Mr Martin Askey attended as a potential new member.
4.5. Meetings attended
4.5.1. Association of East Lothian Community Councils AGM
Mr Thomas will attend
4.5.2. Community Benefits SCIO AGM
Mr Thomas attended. Trustees were confirmed including Mr Thomas. Work is ongoing to enrol all Community Councils as members.
4.5.3. Community and Police Partnership (CAPP)
Mrs Gill attended. An additional officer has joined the community team. Laura Jackson hopes to meet all Community Councils and has pencilled in May for DCC.
4.5.4. Newlands Hill
Mrs Shaw Stewart attended the meeting regarding plans for connecting the windfarm to the grid. Planning permission has not yet been granted for the windfarm.
4.5.5. Bus Forum
Bus Partnership funding is on hold by Scottish Gov. and there will be no future Community Bus Funding for several years. The ELC consultation on supported bus routes was widely misunderstood due to lack of understanding about distinction between supported and commercial routes.
The demand responsive transport (DRT) experiment for Oldhamstocks (funded by Community Bus Funding) was very successful. 94% of bookings were made via the app, 366 passengers signed up and over half journeys had 2 or more passengers. ELC will take account of this success in developing the Supported Services tender. Lothian Buses (operating Eve buses) have improved real-time tracking. Have had some serious anti-social behaviour incidents in Pencaitland and Tranent. Repeated call for better synchronisation of bus and train times at North Berwick station. It would help to have the bus terminus at the station rather than Church Rd which could be done by converting one car parking place.
Morage Haddow reported that there are now ëvirtualí bus stops (without any physical signs) that can be found on Google Maps where buses will stop in rural areas. This is preferable to hailing a bus anywhere along their route.
4.5.6. John Muir Country Park Advisory Group
The horse route has been redirected along the salt marsh. 4000 tonnes of timber are expected to be collected from Hedderwick plantation as a result of storm damage. This will then be left for 5 years to regenerate naturally before replanting as a mixed wood. Visitor numbers are higher than pre-COVID with ongoing problems of irresponsible camping. There are concerns about the proposed steading development at Tyninghame.
5. Area Partnerships
Mrs Cosgrove attended a meeting at the Dunbar Energy Recovery Centre (formerly Viridor) and reported that the community fund will be open for applications in 2025. The day centre will submit an application for a new tea urn. At a meeting at Torness there were concerns expressed about the future of the site and the impact on the workforce. Alan Stubbs and Keith Scott of ELC have been thanked for their support in completion of the work on the priority system and wider pavement on Preston Road. DELAP have scrutinised funding applications and will agree the decision on 25th November. Mrs Priest will chart proposals to address dropped kerbs in East Linton with a view to a request being submitted to ELC Roads Department by 25th November.
Mrs Cosgrove contacted MSPs regarding the reduction of opening hours at station ticket offices. Craig Hoy has responded and Martin Whitfield ensured that Richard Leonard raised a question on the issue at the Scottish Parliament. There is concern that this will develop to closure of booking offices.
6. Finance
The current balance is £2632 following payment towards the tank at the fountain. A cheque was received from the Community Rail Partnership (CRP) towards the cost of printing the new walks leaflet. Outstanding costs for this are £250 for design and an additional £78 for printing. It was agreed to produce Dunpender News in February at a cost of £1095. The Community Fair attendees list will be used to request input.
7. Planning/Licensing Matters
Nothing to report.
8. Tyninghame/Whitekirk
Nothing to report.
9. Traprain/Markle/Whittingehame
Ms Pearson will contact Keith Scott (ELC) about re-doing the road markings at the A199 junction with the road to Traprain.
Mrs Gill has circulated the latest progress updates from Balfour Beatty and details of the proposed planting at the site. Residents are having a challenging time with several different contractors on site and varying road closures. However, the teams on the ground are doing what they can to facilitate safe and easy movement. In addition to the work on the road and bridge Cleantec are working on behalf of Scottish Water to reroute the water main, Balfour Beatty are working on drainage and BT are assessing cable impact. An uncharted water main was struck resulting in the property at Markle End having no water intermittently for 2-3 days. This will be rerouted as part of the Scottish Water works. Work to connect the rerouted main to individual properties is taking long than expected due to problems locating the pipes. The planned completion date for this is end of 2024. Current completion of the road and bridge is expected to be mid 2025.
10. Projects - Walks leaflet, Dunpender News
Mrs Cosgrove reported that volunteers from The Shed have cleared vegetation around the bench on the River Tyne and repainted it. DCC will make a donation of £25.
Mr Thomas reported on the proposal to convert the Longstone Playpark into a community garden/amenity space which previously met queries about Planning. Investigation into the Title Deeds is ongoing to see if this can be overcome. The plan would be for a low maintenance solution and some local residents have offered to help with the project. Mr Thomas has also spoken to the minister about plans for the Glebe Field and he has agreed to attend a future meeting when plans and costs are in place.
11. Correspondence
11.01 02/10 ELC: Meeting re Belhaven Site
11.02 08/10 Sustaining Dunbar: Upcoming October events
11.03 10/10 ELC: Compliance Survey Festive Lights
11.04 14/10 Fred Olson: Crystal Rig 1 Repower Public Meetings
11.05 14/10 Sadia Wood: Aberlady draft Local Place Plan
11.06 14/10 EL Climate Hub: Upcoming events incl. Winter Gathering
11.07 18/10 EDF: Neart Na Gaoithe generating power
11.08 24/10 EL Climate Hub: Climate Change Strategy
11.09 25/10 N. Morland: Fibre Broadband to Markle
11.10 28/10 Sustaining Dunbar: Upcoming November events
12. Any Other Business
DCC have provided a letter of support for the proposed Community Asset Transfer of Belhaven Community Garden but will not attend the upcoming meeting on the future of the Belhaven site.
Mrs Gill invited comment on the Aberlady Local Place Plan. Mr Thomas, Mrs Gill and Mr Wight have been assessing the ELC Climate Change Strategy and will submit a response by 15th December. Mr Askey will assist. ELC have not met their current targets partly due to an incorrect baseline of staff travel emissions which meant that although emissions have reduced they are higher than anticipated.
Mrs Gill is meeting ELC Economic Development Officer regarding the possibility of installation of Fibre broadband to Markle. Mrs Shaw Smith will provide a BT contact from the Whittingehame installation. Mr Martin advised copying all MSPs on communications..
Mr Russel has contacted Gordon Whitelaw about the collapse of the wall at the flower bed in Memorial Park. Mrs Gill has worked with Alastair Seagroat to secure the DCC website. This will mean an ongoing cost of £30pa.
Mr Beckman reported that Linn Rocks has mostly been quiet. A group of underage drinkers resulted in a 101 call a couple of weeks ago. There was no response at the time but the group did move on. Subsequent examination of the CCTV footage identified those involved and the situation is being monitored. Laura Jackson has suggested early meetings next year to get on top of things before it kicks off again. Following the incident in July charges will be brought against the young people involved. Mr Beckman also reported ongoing issues with no Fibre broadband to that area of the village. It was recommended he get support from neighbours and set up meetings with MSPs.
Mr Gill advised that ELC are inviting applications for One Council Partnership Fund grants. Applications close in December. Details will be added to DCC website and circulated to other Community Councils. Mrs Gill is progressing DCC membership of the Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations.
Mrs Cosgrove reported on a visit to East Linton station by representatives of Dunbar and District Twinning Association and their counterparts from LigniËres en-route to Edinburgh. The Community Rail Partnership assisted by funding train fares. Mr Russel plans to attend the Remembrance service on behalf of DCC.
13. Date of next meeting: Thursday 5th December 2024