Chairperson’s Report 2010

This year has been an eventful year for Community Council with the main focus of attention being the out of Town developments which I will deal with later on. It is with regret that we accept the resignation of two of our members Carol McKay and Bob Oliver. Although only with us a short time Carol proved to be a ‘hands on’ member of CC and was one of the stalwarts at the Visitor Information Centre. Carol stood in for any vacancies that occurred in the rota sheet, along with our colleague Kathryn. Carol will carry on filling in at the Centre whenever a vacancy arises. I would also like to thank Bob Oliver who was Vice Chairman and planning liaison officer also was fully ‘hands on’ and who stood in for me whilst I was away from Community Council meetings during my son’s illness. I would also like to take this opportunity in thanking Emily and John Hamilton for taking responsibility of other duties during my leave of absence.

Our financial situation is healthy with the CC Account balance standing at £ and our Festival Account balance standing at £ as at the end of the Financial year. The monthly accounts can be seen in the minutes on our website or at the Haddington Library. Our thanks to Emily for doing such a great job.

Bob has been monitoring the planning applications and this year we requested consultation on the following applications - 24A Sidegate – change of use to a dwelling house, 81 High Street – change of use from newspaper shop to Indian Restaurant and Take away. With increasing applications for wind turbines, we asked the East Lothian Council for their stance on this subject and we need to monitor development of West Mills area. The planning issues causing us most concern is the out of town developments by Miller Development (outline) for Harperdean, Sainsbury at Gateside West, and Tesco at Gateside East. We submitted to East Lothian Council was that the wider community’s view was that an additional supermarket at Gateside West would be the best option for Haddington on the grounds that it will provide competition to Tesco, provide more employment and improve the appearance of the entrance to the town. The site at Gateside West is also a contained site and therefore could not be enlarged. Despite a Council official attending our public meeting in June of last year and the submissions by Community Council, the Haddington Business Association and HADAS, and others, the decision was taken by East Lothian Council officials that Harperdean be the preferred site for the out of town development.

We continue to raise matters brought to us by the public at the Councillor’s Corner slot at the meetings. Some times we feel that we are hitting our heads against a brick wall trying to get things done because of ‘budget restraints’. The future for this coming year looks bleak with the probability of further cuts. It looks like our outstanding matters section in the minutes could become much longer.

Again, Haddington has relatively small criminal activity with the main problems being vandalism. Regular policing by the Police and Community Wardens has helped to lessen this. We would like to welcome PC Lynn Black who is our new Community Police contact. In addition to attending our meeting the Police and the Community Council have established a Community and Police Partnership (CAPP) Group which is held on the 1^st Monday of the month. Thanks to Emily for standing in for me at these meetings.

The Haddington festival again seemed to be a popular event with each event being well attended. We thank of all the public who turned out to support these events and hope they will continue to do so. We that all of the individuals and organisations who organised and put on these events. Without their continued support the festival would not be the success it is.

Our Local Priorities budget last year was spent on the following – Visitor Information signposts, Haddington Pathways Leaflet, bollard lighting at Athelstaneford Village Hall, Christmas Lights purchase and erecting & dismantling of said lights, Christmas Tree, torches for procession, erection of bunting at Haddington Festival, Herbs and shredder for Haddington Garden Trust, Horticultural Society donation, Desk for the Corn Exchange, locks for CC cupboards at Corn Exchange, and the flowerbeds at Haddington and Athelstaneford.

The handbook was delayed a bit last year and we were not happy with some problems with the printing but it did not deflect from the articles which were in it. Our thanks again go to Bob Mitchell who acts on our behalf as Editor and also thanks to the Scouts for taking on the delivery.

The Visitor Information Centre is again proving to be very popular not only with visitors but with our local community as well.

May I once again thank my fellow councillors for the support they so willingly give in all the events that we are involved. The continued guidance and support of Lilian Pryde and her colleagues at East Lothian Council is much appreciated.

I would like to say thank you to the general public, our business community, and those in our community who help us throughout the year with either financial or ‘hands on’ help especially with the annual Festival, Art Exhibition and Craft Fairs.

This has been a very emotional and difficult year for me and my family with Christopher’s illness. I would like to say thank you to Bob, Emily and John Hamilton for taking so much of the pressure off me by standing in at such short notice helping with cc business and to the wonderful support not only from my family, colleagues and friends but members of the public. I have been so touched with the good wishes of people sending flowers, phoning and sending me emails. It has been such a comfort and has helped me get through this difficult time.

Jan Wilson

Chairperson

The Royal Burgh of Haddington

& District Community Council.

May 2010