Minutes of meeting of 8th April 2008
in Council Chambers
Jan Wilson (Chair), John Golightly (Vice Chair), Emily Armatage (Treasurer), Irene Pow (Secretary) Colvin Denholm, Bob Oliver, Kathryn McDowall, Effie Renton, Norman Lawrie, Graeme MacGregor
Cllr Ludovic Broun-Lindsay, Iain Gray MSP, Neil Aitchison (Courier), Craig Finley (EL News), Anna Faulkner (minute secretary)
3.1 Note
from Graeme on meeting held on 15th March
Iain introduced himself and
said that he welcomed the chance to come to our meeting – pointing out that
although it was not possible to attend every meeting, he was at our disposal
should we wish to raise any particular issues with him. He also said that if the CC would like to a
visit to the Parliament he was happy to arrange this.
Questions to Iain
Traffic situation in Haddington: Effie asked if anything could be done about the
traffic situation. Iain said that the
way it is organised is a matter for the local council but that he does spend a
lot of time on efforts to improve the service.
Is aware that whilst the service between towns in East Lothian and
Edinburgh is good, the local services inter towns is inadequate. RAGES are still pursuing a longer term
solution with a rail service between Edinburgh, Haddington and Dunbar, with a
possible stop-off at East Linton. He
has met with the Transport minister who seems quite positive about this. He will continue to keep pressing on these
proposals.
Proposed development at Letham: Jan brought
this subject up and asked how many more houses can the town take. Iain agreed that the number of houses
proposed would take the town almost to capacity. He said that they can’t just say no to more houses as they are
needed but what is important is how it is done and managed. He hoped that, long term, that the
development would be sustainable.
Improved employment in Haddington: Graeme asked
if anything could be done to help. Iain
said he has had meetings with Economic Development about the
possibilities. One problem was that
there wasn’t enough business premises available for rent and the new commercial
sites at Macmerry and Gateside are more expensive than sites in West
Lothian. Iain thought that one of the
best ways to support employment was via the Tourism Industry – East Lothian is
rich in attractions, namely castles, churches, John Muir Country Park, Seabird
Centre, golf to name a few and the potential to create more jobs is there.
Funding to improve town entrances: Colvin asked
if there was any help available to improve the town entrances. Iain wasn’t sure that there was but that the
slip roads are maintained already. He
said that there was a proposal before the election to set up a town centre
renewal fund. Towns would be able to
access this to help with refurbishment of certain areas.
Land Reform Bill: Emily asked if the government
is going to replace the EU funding which it is proposing to stop. Iain wasn’t sure but will look into it.
Athelstaneford: Irene said that they have an ongoing problem
with raw sewage at Gilmerton House. It
has been brought to the attention of ELC, Scottish Water, SEPA and
Environmental Health and still nothing has been done.
Taxation: Jan suggested that the bigger the car the
more tax people should pay, likewise with the size of their house. Iain said that there is an energy efficiency
bill proposed at the moment which would give a discount on council tax
dependent on how energy efficient your house was. At present the government won’t support this bill but they will
keep pursuing it.
Provision of Nursing Care: Kathryn asked
if any consideration will be given to people with disabilities, people in
nursing homes or those being cared for at home. This provision is the responsibility of the local authority and
previously some funding was earmarked for this. This has been removed, which Iain said they opposed as there is
no guarantee that any money set aside
will be spent in this area.
Herdmanflat: Jan said that in 2004/05 Jan and Maggie
Burns targeted the NHS to save the hospital.
They were made promises that a new hospital would be provided by
2009. This has obviously not
materialised. Iain said he had raised
the matter with NHS manager David White who also gave assurances that have not
materialised. Iain will continue to
pursue this matter.
Money for Community Councils: Jan said that
Gordon Brown had promised that there would be more money available to
CC’s. Iain said that this is something
that will be raised in the parliament but suspects that the answer will lie
with the local authority.
Jan thanked Iain for taking
the time to attend the meeting and address the matters raised.
Approval of the
minutes was proposed by John and seconded by Bob.
6. Matters Arising
6.1 Item 5.4 Recycling bins: As a note of interest Bob said that he had just had delivered a blue bag for paper recycling. Ludovic said that the person to contact for information on recycling was Colin Clark.
6.2 Item 5.5 Fly tipping: Bob said that it was still there but that the mono-blocks were gradually disappearing! Ludovic has taken this up with Stuart Pryde who is trying to find out who is responsible and will have it cleared up.
6.3 Item 6.2 Amisfield Park (hole in wall): Norman asked where this was exactly. Colvin said that it was just past the entrance to the houses. As well as a large hole in the wall it was pointed out that a great majority of the wall is in a bad state of repair.
6.4 Item 7.1 Haldane Avenue - speeding: Bob said that a survey has been carried out but about half way along this stretch of road instead of at the beginning – the police report did not find that there was a problem with speeding. Bob said this wasn’t surprising as most of the cars will be starting to slow down for the roundabout and that the problem is at the beginning.
6.5 Item 10.1 Doocot: Jan has got an ‘A’ board but it is very heavy. There is still the problem of cars parking in front of the door – John asked if yellow lines could be painted here.
6.6 Item 15.1 O/S matters
list: Jan
said that she hadn’t spoken to Lilian about this as yet. Ludovic has warned Lilian that this list
will be coming to her. Jan will deal with it. Action JW
7. Councillors Corner
7.1 Lady Kitty’s: Emily said she had been asked to bring to the meeting the problem
of youths hanging about in the evening.
Jan asked that Emily send her an email about this and she would contact
PC Gunn. Action
EA/JW
7.2 Riverside Drive: Colvin said that the footpaths
are a real mess, particularly between nos 33-40 and 93-107. This is due to the work being carried out
here. Action LB-L
7.3 Dobsons Well: Effie asked if the footpath sign could be reinstated. Action
LB-L
7.4 Naming of roads: The councillors asked if Ludovic could find out the
position re naming of new roads in the town.
Action
LB-L
7.5 Cross Lane:
Effie said that at the bottom of the lane between Market St and High St there
is a drain cover missing.
Action
LB-L
7.6 Lady Kitty’s:
Effie said that the retaining
wall inside the garden has been broken down. Action LB-L
7.7 Gates for High Street: Jan received a phone call from a resident in the chip
shop close just off High Street with complaints of broken glass, close being
used as a toilet and young adults congregating there and making a noise,
Action LB-L
7.8 Burley’s Wa’s:
Effie said that the boarding
surrounding this area is off and the site behind is a real eye-sore. Colvin said that this part of the site was
privately owned. They have already approached
the Masonic Lodge re the acquisition of the hall. Colvin will try and find out more information on this. Action CD
7.9 Carlisle Cafe:
Kathryn pointed out that there
are very uneven slabs outside this area. Action
LB-L
8. Police Questions
– no police were present at the meeting
9. Honorariums
9.1 It was agreed to pay the following honorariums:
Community Council Account - £100 to Jan (Chair)
£200
to Emily (Treasurer)
£200
to Irene (Correspondence Sec.)
£100
to Norman (Planning Officer)
Festival Account - £200
to Jan
As
per last year Norman and Irene both thanked the committee but declined to
accept their honorariums. The above figures were proposed by Norman and
seconded by Effie. Emily will transfer
money from the Festival account to cover these. Action
EA
10. Correspondence
Received:
10.1 Notices of ELC meetings
10.2 Poster for Iain Gray/MSP
10.3 Letter
from Jean Squires re ‘Sustaining Haddington’, a workshop on 23/4/08 in Town
House at 7pm: Jan, Kathryn and possibly Effie will go
10.4 Letter of thanks from ELC,’Monkrigg Court’ the chosen name (our suggestion!)
10.5 Letter from Forestry Commission re consultation on Forest Enterprise Scotland
10.6 Reply from PPG re Oak Tree Cafe site/Scottish Power to blame!
10.7 Leaflet from Postwatch Scotland
10.8 Copy of Homefront/Newsletter for Tenants of ELC
10.9 Letter from Stan Wnuczek: Jan has received a letter from this resident who is in total opposition to the closure of the road at
the Waterside (D Motherwell had brought this up again at the last meeting). Jan read out the letter which to sum up, asks that we take no further action with this. Jan thought that we had not agreed to take any action on this anyway.
10.10 Brief report from Graeme on meeting held 15th March: Talk Together/Tal to your MSP’s
10.11 Letter from Stan Wnuczek Re gates at Tyneclose – these have now been closed.
10.12 CC Training: Jan said the Lilian was thinking about holding a training day soon.
10.13 Date Protection Act: Jan will bring this to the next meeting
10.14 Phonecall from Fraser Spowage: re the gates at the entrance to Neilson Park. Rusting and some of the letters are missing. Could something be done about this. He also would like to thank Community Council for raising the matter periodically of the unkempt state of the walkway near the weir at the ‘tubby. This has now been done and he thanks East Lothian Council for doing this.
Sent out:
11. Planning
11.1 Norman
passed out copies of his report which summarises the position regarding ongoing
and new applications. Jan thanked
Norman for his invaluable help to the CC and wished him all the best in his
retirement.
12. Treasurer’s Report
12.1 Emily
handed out the current balance sheet:-
HADDINGTON & DISTRICT COMMUNITY COUNCIL A/C as at 8th
April 2008
Last month’s Balance £1,187.09
Income Expenditure
Interest £0.89 Jan’s Phone exp £28.00
Emily’s phone exp £28.00
Anna Secretary’s fee £50.00
Total £1,187.98 £106.00
New balance £1,187.98- £106.00 = £1,081.98
Jan has not cashed her cheque so bank statement reads £1,109.98
HADDINGTON
COMMUNITY COUNCIL FESTIVAL A/C as at 8th April 2008
Last month’s balance £18,394.70
Income Expenditure
Interest £23.38 Tax £4.67
Knox Academy Website £170.00
Colvin Denholm donation £200.00
Seat for Information office £70.00
Stand for Information office £94.00
Float for Information office £65.00
Donation to the library £200.00
Total Income £18,418.08 Total
Expenditure £803.67
New balance £18,418.08 -
£803.67 = £17,614.41
The library cheque has not been presented so bank
statement reads £17,814.41
13. Handbook
13.1 Directory: Jan asked that everyone took a page to check the details. This is to be deferred to the Festival Meeting.
14. Festival
Minutes
14.1 Jan confirmed that Sunday 25th May is the correct date (and not Sun 26th as stated in the mins)
14.2 Emily will book wreath from Kerr’s Action EA
15. John Lockhart Trophy
15.1 Emily asking for nominations. An advert will go in the Courier this week. 18th May is the closing date with the presentation being held on 25th May.
16. AOCB
16.1 Cards: Jan had some sample cards made from photos taken by Linda Sneddon. She proposed we sell them in the doocot at £1 each or 4 for £3.50
17. Date of next Meeting: Tuesday 8th May (plus AGM) 2008 in Council Chambers, Town House at 7.00pm.
18. Date of next Festival Meeting: Tuesday 22nd April 2008 in Town House at 7.00pm
19. Outstanding
Matters Arising from previous minutes
19.1 Jan
still to send a copy of this list to
Lilian to enable her to check on which items have been auctioned/which are
still outstanding. Action JW
2006
14/03
Athelstaneford (Lighting
outside hall): a wall light has been installed
but this is not what the CC had asked for; Emily to email Tom about this Action EA
Burley’s Wa’s – 12/06 it was reported that the insurance
company has insisted that the area around the George Hotel be boarded up in
light of a recent incident relating to a fire extinguisher being let off
12/04 Old
Bowling Green – name plaque: Sheena has
tried to find out where the original sign is.
Suggested that a new one be made if old one can’t be found (09/07)
09/06 Town House Clock tower lighting – Jan has contacted Halliday’s on numerous occasions and the lighting has still to be sorted. 13/2 Jan has had no reply to her email and Irene had no reply to a letter she sent to them last Autumn. It was decided that Irene should write again. 08/05 and 12/06 Still no reply Action IP
11/03/08 Jan said that Alan Forsyth has confirmed
that some of the wires have been pecked by the pigeons. Some sort of covering needs to be sourced to
prevent this continuing
12/09 Broken kerb at Co-op
10/10 Uneven slabs at Graeme McGraths
14/11 Mill Wynd/Millfield - fencing
Mill Wynd/West Mills – pathway
Dunbar Road – pavement a mess
2007
09/01 Long Stay parking-disabled parking bays
13/02 Footbridge at Riverside Drive
St Ann’s Place – large puddle
Herdmanflat – broken slabs/tree roots
13/03 Nungate Bridge – light filters
Abbey Bridge – broken mirror
Ball Alley – lights
10/04 Estate Agents signs
Abbotsview/Riverside Drive – wall/broken slabs
Newton
Port/Market St junction – broken sign in pavement
Guttering – High Street
Courier Office – exposed pipe in pavement
Peter Potters – broken drain
08/05 White brig – slats missing-Tom has passed
this on to relevant department (12/06)
Pathway at sluice
Herdmanflat
12/06 Public
toilets-one-way mirror – 11/12 Tom Trotter has spoken to Tom Shearer
about this: let him know if this hasn’t been done
Rugby Club-upgrading & fencing off pitch
Nungate Bridge-needing overhaul
Oak Tree Café-untidy-needing cleared
11/09 General disrepair of the pavements in town
Gifford Road – speed bumps
Oxfam Shop – selling new goods
09/10 Signposts in Newton Port facing the wrong way
Langriggs (gates to vennels)
Gateside commerce park – lowered pavement
Alderston Muir – naming of : 11/12 Jan suggested Bob email Sheena direct regarding this
Church Street –Parking overlapping pavement
Alderston Muir – fence blocking access to Alderston Muir
The Sands-Vehicles parking on corner of Church Street and The Sands
Local Plan Inquiry –request for a copy of report.
13/11 Highways: invite Brian Cooper and/or Peter Forsyth to some of our meetings
Play area (Longcram/Acreadales): 11/12 reported
Missing drain cover outside Sue Ryder shop: 11/12 reported
Pencaitland
Road – election poster: 11/12 reported
11/12 Court Street – paving stones - reported
Herdmanflat
– paving stones - reported
2008
12/02 Monkmains – bollards: 11/03 in hand
Public toilets – condensation: 11/03 under investigation
Neighbourhood Watch Posters: 11/03 ELC can provide
Fly tipping problem – Alderston: 11/03 reported
Riverside Drive Bridge – anti-slip coating
Hopetoun Drive – speeding
11/03 Old A1: bench
Amisfield: hole in wall
Alderston Gardens: signage/trees
Street lighting: Gifford Gate, Lady Kitty’s, bollards
08/04 Lady Kitty’s – broken wall
Riverside Drive – messy pavements
Dobsons Well – signage
Cross Lane – missing drain cover
Carlise Cafe – uneven paving slabs