Royal Burgh of Haddington and District Community Council

Minutes of meeting of 13^th September 2011 in Council Chambers

1. Sederunt

Jan Wilson (JW) (Chair), Emily Armatage (EA) (Treasurer), Fiona-Frances Adam, (FFA) Martin Lugton, (ML) Pat Lemmon, (PL) (Correspondence Secretary), Graeme MacGregor, (GMcG) Dave Brunton, (DBn) Robert Moran (Rab), Tom Kirkpatrick (TK), John Hamilton (JH), Alan Dunton (AD)

In attendance

Cllr Tom Trotter (TT), Robert Flood (RF), Alice Wheeler, Connor Forsyth (6^th yr pupils - KA), PC Lynn Black (LB), PC Debra Gray (DG), Brian Copland (EL Courier) Anna Faulkner (minutes secretary)

2. Apologies: Cllr Ludovic Broun-Lindsay, Suzette MacGregor, Margaret Ingle

3. AOCB

3.1 Santa sleigh

4. Minutes of 10^th May

Approval of the minutes was proposed by Rab and seconded by Fiona

5. Matters Arising

5.1 Item 5.7 Cleaning of the Goat: Tom was asked if this had been looked into – he wasn’t sure. Pat said that this had been brought up at a recent HTAG meeting and Paul Zochowski was going to look into it.

5.2 Item 6.4 Neilson Park pavilion: Pat has asked the mothers interested in this idea to put something in writing – so far she has heard nothing. John H said that he has heard that the Tennis club are keen to keep the pavilion solely for sporting use.

5.3 Item 13.1 Heggie/Wright report: Jan said that the CC have pledged £2000 towards the report and she had heard that ELC are putting £10,000 towards it.

5.4 Item 14.1 BMX group: Pat said that Mike and the boys have worked really hard and in just 3 months have already raised the sum of £2233 – well done to them.

5.5 Item 15.1 Traffic survey: Jan said that she, Pat and David had been informed at an HTAG meeting that a workshop would be organised – nothing forthcoming on this as yet. We are also awaiting some news on the decision regarding the one-way system. It was suggested that if anyone has any comments to bring to the workshop when organised.

6. Councillors Corner

6.1 Court St, lights: Fiona said that the lights had been out for months in Court St (though now on again) but the lights are still out in Brewery Park. Action TT

6.2 Drains behind High St: Pat said that Scottish Water are not responsible. Tenants have to be approached about what they are putting down the system – Jan said that they were given leaflets regarding this when they had a problem in Sidegate Lane. Pat is awaiting a report on the drains.

6.3 Update from Tom: Tom said that lines have been raised for items brought up at the last meeting. Athelstaneford – items here have still not been dealt with. Action TT

7. Police Questions (PC Lynn Black and PC Debra Gray)

PC Gray introduced herself as the community officer for outlying areas eg Gifford, Athelstaneford etc

7.1 High vis patrols: Lynn reported that they have been carrying out patrols around the schools – this has been well received. Hadd Infant School, ELC and the police have held talks and appealed to parents to not bring cars near the schools. Letters have been sent out and parents have been asked to report any problems they see occurring – this has been working well – with some reg nos being reported to the police. The owners are contacted with a general letter asking them to be aware of their actions.

7.2 CAPP meeting: Lynn said that they are currently running a preventative policing plan – over the next 2 months certain hot-spots will be targeted. She also passed out the leaflet detailing the 3 policing priorities for the next 2 months: antisocial behaviour behind High St, dog fouling and littering/loitering in High St and St Marys Pleasance. Rab asked if anyone is ever convicted of dog fouling. Lynn said that they do hand out spot fines when they are caught and is planning an early morning patrol with the dog warden shortly.

8. Community Warden News – none present

9. Knox Academy News

9.1 Two new pupils: Robert welcomed two new 6^th year pupils to the meeting – Alice Wheeler and Connor Forsyth.

9.2 Christmas lights: Robert said they would also be attending the Christmas lights meeting.

9.3 Community Survey: this has been completed and the results will be brought to the next meeting.

Action RF

9.4 Tots & Teens: this is now up and running with some 3^rd year pupils helping out.

9.5 Festival float: Knox going to participate with this next year – a pupil committee will hopefully be set up to help with the project.

9.6 Heart-start: the school is hoping to offer a heart-start evening – details to follow

9.7 Community Assembly: the first community assembly will be held shortly which is open to all year groups. Joe Forte has been invited as the first speaker. It was thought that the Community Awards could be awarded at the end of this assembly. Robert asked if the CC would be willing to sponsor this award, perhaps donate a trophy? There would be different awards, covering different categories. After a short discussion it was agreed that the CC would fund up to 3 trophies.

9.8 S6, service in the community: this can be done out-with or within the school. Robert said that they are trying to make it compulsory during 6^th year.

9.9 Charities committee: a committee has been set up within the school and the area chosen this year will be the Christmas lights – this will be announced at the school assembly next week.

9.10 Facebook page: a new Facebook page has been created: Happenings in Haddington. Jan said she has already had lots of events coming through.

9.11 Congratulations: Tom congratulated the school for the excellent set of results this year. Robert will take this back to the school.

9.12 Business question-time: Robert said that due to the success of the last one they are holding another session in November. Half a dozen businesses in Haddington will be invited to come along. Date and time will be given later. Jan said that the previous session had been very good.

9.13 Santa sleigh: John H had mentioned at the beginning of the year about the possibility of the art dept helping out with the refurbishment of the sleigh. He said that Sherriff’s have offered to put a canopy on it but could the school help with the painting. Robert will ask both the art and the technical department. Action RF

10. One-way system

10.1 Jan said that the end of September sees the end of the system as it stands at present. After this time it is thought that Hardgate will revert back to 2-way, with the High St and Market St remaining one-way, as they are now. ELC said they were going to arrange a workshop for all to air their concerns/suggestions – so far Jan has not heard when this will be held. One of the concerns is the loss of parking in Hardgate as current parking spaces will all go to allow for a 2-way stream of traffic and also the effect the traffic flow will have on the retailers in the town centre.

10.2 Local Transport Strategy: a questionnaire has been set up on-line to allow for feed-back on this.

10.3 Newton Port: there is a need for a pedestrian crossing in NP. This has been brought up many times but has never been pursued by ELC. Pat suggested we request a meeting with ELC re a NP crossing. Action PL

11. Correspondence

Received:

11.1 Various ELC meeting notices and minutes

11.2 Edin & Lothians Archeaology Conf: leaflets

11.3 Queen Eliz II Fields challenge: letter received

11.4 EL library services: details of changes to opening hours

11.5 SES Development Plan: this to be brought to next meeting

11.6 Enjoy Leisure: letter re an outstanding invoice of £147.30. Jan said she has already spoken with Linda Herkess re this with the outcome that the £147 has been revised to a charge of only £36 – Emily to pay this amount. Action EA

11.7 Leukaemia & Lymphoma research: letter thanking us for the donation of £1831 raised recently from the EL Got Talent competition. Jan said that she had a call from Ian Gibson and there is a further £55 to add to this, making the total sum £1886. Jan said a big thank-you to all for this brilliant sum of money.

11.8 Local Environment Action Project (LEAP): can apply for a grant for the development of open spaces etc. Jan wondered about the BMX park?

11.9 Heritage Forum: summary of notes

11.10 Local Housing Strategy 2012/17: Alan will have a look at this and bring to next meeting. ActionAD

11.11 ELC letter: confirmation of the street closures requested with regard to the Armistice parade and torchlight procession.

11.12 Transport assessment document (Gateside West): Rab took this to have a look at and report back to the meeting next month. Action RM

11.13 Intelligent Land Investments: Emily reported that we would not get any money from them.

11.14 Gifford Duke of Edin group, request for donation: we were asked for a donation from them previously but declined as we had already given to the Hadd D of E. It was asked why don’t they approach the Gifford CC for a donation? Pat to write to explain why we won’t be able to give a donation this time. Action PL

11.15 Trad in the Tyne: leaflet with details

11.16 Carers of East Lothian: evening of entertainment tomorrow evening at Lennoxlove 7/7.30pm.

12. Planning Applications (John will send summaries via email)

12.1 Various domestic applications

12.2 Wind turbines: steady trickle of applications coming in. John said that ELC have a consultative paper on wind turbines.

12.3 Sainsburys: planning application has come in. The CC response voices some minor concerns namely: traffic access, restriction on comparison goods. Another concern is the West Road, especially when the proposed Letham development is built.

12.4 Pheasant Hotel: planning application is for five flats, one with roof-top sitting area and a retail unit below.

13. Treasurers Report

14. Christmas lights update

14.1 Jan has had word that we will not be able to put up lamp-posts for the purposes of putting up christmas lights. ELC will not entertain them as a permanent feature in the street and it will not be possible to put them up and take them down each year. ELC are putting in lamp-posts for the John Gray Centre but do not want them continued down the street.

14.2 Pricing: Linda Mitchell has looked into another company for supply of the lights.

14.3 Structural checks: Jan received a letter from ELC detailing the checks we need to have carried out before the lights can be erected. We need to have a Structural engineer to carry out the work which involves checking all the fixings and bolts before giving the go-ahead. Linda has arranged for the engineer from Dunbar to come to Haddington – the report will cost £800.

14.4 Buy or Hire lights: Jan gave financial details of both options with quotations from both Blachere and the Festive Lighting Co. The Xmas Lights Sub-committee have already gone over both options and after consideration, have decided we go ahead and hire the lights. This is being brought to the meeting as financial matters have to be passed by the full committee. Due to various fund-raising events the sum of £8024 has been raised towards the lights.

Annual costs: Should we go down the route of hiring the lights we will still have the yearly expenditure of the structural engineer and the erection of the lights. We currently have £5000 in our CC funds, given to us by the John Main & Sons Trust. Jan asked if we could draw on this if there were to be a short-fall in the funds for the lights in any given year. It was agreed that we go ahead and hire the lights for a 3 year period and, should it be necessary, we use the money in the trust fund as detailed above.

15. Festival Minutes and update

15.1 Not a great deal to report, though Jan has heard that a jazz group would be willing to put on a show with no expense to us.

16.1 Tourism update: the doocot is now closed. A night out for the volunteers has been arranged for Thursday at the Plough. It was agreed that the CC pay 50% of the cost of this as a thank-you to the volunteers. Jan thanked all those who had helped out in the doocot. Once the John Gray Centre is finished we will relocate to the library within the building.

17. AOCB

17.1 Santa sleigh: already discussed at 9.13

Date of next Meeting: Tuesday 11^th October 2011 in Council Chambers, Town House at 7.00pm.

Date of next Festival Meeting: Tuesday 27^th September 2011 in Council Chambers, Town House at 7.00pm

Outstanding Matters Arising from previous minutes

2008

12/02

Public toilets – condensation: 11/03 under investigation

Riverside Drive Bridge – anti-slip coating

11/03 Old A1: bench

Street lighting: Gifford Gate, Lady Kitty’s, bollards

08/04 Dobson’s Well – signage

13/05 Recycle bins –sports centre

Disabled parking bays

The Sands – parking

10/05 Clearing of river Tyne

Traffic calming – Queens Avenue

09/09 Beechwood Rd – widen pathway

Amisfield Cottages – Slow Down sign

Disabled parking bays – sign erected

2009

13/01 Church Street/Langriggs/Nungate Bridge – lighting

10/02 Beechwood Road – potholes

Roodlands – new hospital – major delay

10/03 Tyne under Victoria Bridge

Town Centre – one-way system

Fortune Ave – signage

12/05 Skate ramp request

09/06 Bermaline – state of river below and at weir

Westfield – disrepair of bridge

Cobblers Shoe Shop premises – disrepair of walls

2010

09/03 Lammermuir Crescent – small wall

14/09 Nungate Bridge – state of disrepair

09/11 Victoria Bridge – parking restrictions (MI)

2011

08/02 George Hotel – clean up exterior

Glebe Cres (Athel) – broken slab

Closes in High Street – sewage problems

12/04 Herdmanflat – fence lowered

Tyne Court – state of disrepair

10/5 Hope Park Cres – pothole

Hardgate – disrepair of pavement

14/6 Riverside Dv – wooden bridge missing slats

Speed bumps – Lynlea Ave

Corn Exch – faulty drain

Whitt Dv – problem with flooding round pavilion

Transportation Dept. -Pot Holes and Broken Slabs throughout the Town & Athelstaneford

Pot Holes: Abbotsview, Somnerfield, Newton Port, Court Street, Seggarsdean, Roodlands Court, Oak Tree Roundabout, Beechwood Rd

Uneven Pavements: High Street, Market Street, Court Street. St. Anne’s Place, Mitchells Close (11/1/11), Glebe Cres (Athel) 8/2,

Drain Covers Missing: Church Street