Minutes of
meeting of 14th March 2006 at Council Chambers, Town House.
1. Sederunt
Jan Wilson (Chair), Moira Ross (Vice Chair), Emily Armatage (Treasurer), Irene Pow (Secretary),
Norman Lawrie, John Golightly, David Motherwell, Effie Renton, Ruth Moncrieff, John Fraser, Marion Smith
Marianne Andrews, David Brunton, Graeme Macgregor.
Councillor Charles Ingle, Councillor Ann McCarthy, Councillor Sheena Richardson, Ian Metcalf (Courier), Helen Paterson (East Lothian News), Anna Faulkner (minute secretary)
3. Major Items for AOCB – Christmas lights
4. Welcome to new members
4.1 Jan started the meeting by welcoming the three new community councillors, Marianne Andrews, Graeme Macgregor and Dave Brunton to the meeting.
5. Minutes of Tuesday 14th February
5.1 Minor changes were made to the minutes.
5.2 Item 10.1 Tesco proposals: this paragraph should read – Norman said that at the January meeting he had reported that there would be a public enquiry regarding their 2003 application. By the time of the Festival meeting on 24th January Tesco had withdrawn their appeal. It would appear that they are now awaiting the outcome of further developments in the town and county.
5.3 Item 10.2 Market Street: Add at the bottom – These were later examined by some members.
5.4 Item 10.3 Police Station: Add – No action was proposed
Approval of the minutes was proposed by Moira and seconded by John G.
6. Matters Arising
6.1 Litter bins: Stuart Pryde had said that he would look into the lack of bins on the north/west of the town and also Athelstaneford. Neither have materialised so it was suggested we email Stuart to chase this and Jan said that we should also include any other additional matters we wish to raise with him. Irene will email. Action IP
6.2 Item 5.1 Seggarsdean Terrace: Charles confirmed that the sign is now up.
6.3 Item 5.2 Athelstaneford (lighting at hall): Charles has put this forward for consideration under the Council’s Local Initiative Funding. A meeting is to be held, hopefully before the end of March and this item is on the agenda. Action CI
6.4 Item 6.2 Bridge at Weir: Norman had brought a diagram of this area to the meeting. He said that the hole in the wall which at present provides access to the site under development would be built up once the site was finished but that a gate would be created at the top of the wall for emergency access. This would be above the flood level.
6.5 Item 6.3 Jacksons Jewellers: Moira asked Ann if there were any further developments with this. Ann wasn’t sure if this would be part of the town centre painting plans. Some grants have been allocated but she was not sure if this would be considered as there are possibly other buildings with greater priority.
6.6 Item 6.4 Town House lift: Ann was asked when the lift would be commissioned. She said that she has been told that it will be soon.
6.7 Item 6.5 Bus stop in Court Street: What had looked like a temporary ramp at the bus stop has been cleared.
6.8 Item 6.8 Market Street: John G pointed out that there is no designated stop here so why do the buses stop, causing major congestion at certain times of the day. After some discussion a majority vote decided that we do not want to lose this unofficial stop but that we should ask that the buses do not wait there. Irene to write to ask that the buses do not wait in Market Street but continue as soon as they have dropped passengers off. John F also pointed out that the buses should not be sitting with their engines running.
6.9 Item 13.2 Doocot: Jan asked how work on this was progressing. Charles confirmed that it would not be ready for the planned opening date of the visitor centre at the beginning of April. The structural work is done but they are waiting for the plaster work to dry out before further work can commence.
7. Councillors Corner
7.1 Doocot: David Motherwell pointed out that the workmen had left all the barriers used at the doocot, which were later found thrown in the Tyne. Charles agreed that this can be a problem along with all manner of other things in the water like police cones etc.
7.2 Local chemists: Dave Brunton said that he had had a complaint from a member of the public about the provision of methadone in the local chemists. Mothers with children had been shocked by the language and abuse witnessed and wondered if there could be a specific area put aside for this. Charles agreed and said he would take it up with social services to try to discuss some other means of administering this service. Jan said that aside from the discomfort for the public, those who need to take this are also losing their anonymity by having to be given their dose in a very public manner. Ann said that this was a health board matter and that she personally had not had any complaints about this. Ann said that there were lots of questions surrounding this issue and that there will be a review of the methadone project as it should be a way out of drug abuse and not just a substitute. Charles said that the simple answer would be to provide somewhere private, either in the chemist or at a doctors surgery for example. Ann will pursue this issue. Action AMcC
7.3 Flickering strip light in Council Chambers: John asked if this could be fixed – has been flickering for some time now.
7.4 Knox Place: Jan had received a call from Willie Grant about the ongoing problem of cars parking around and opposite the junction with Meadowpark. It was suggested that a disabled parking bay be created outside Kennedy Court. Effie pointed out that a lot of the cars belonged to council workers who leave their cars there all day. It was also suggested that double yellow lines be painted on the north side of the road to prevent parking here. Sheena said she has tried many times over the years but will continue to pursue this. Action SR
7.5 Burleigh’s Wa’s: This matter was brought up again – can something not be done about this eyesore. Ann said that this was private property and was not really the responsibility of the council. Jan asked if the owners could not be forced into doing something. It was suggested we contact the Land Registry to ascertain who owns the land and take it from there. Action IP
7.6 Car park at Newton Port: Tony Moran has once again written to the CC about this matter. Although one side of the car park has been designated for the use of surgery patients the rest of the car park is not and was supposed to be time limited. Sheena said that she had made enquiries about this and the council are adamant that nothing can be done until the implementation of the traffic plan. Jan wondered why this couldn’t be done as other parts of the town have a time limit in place. Ann said that she did have a letter from the council stating that the situation would be reviewed. It was suggested that we write to the council with reference to this letter and point out that they said they would review this matter. Action IP
8. Police Questions – no police were present
8.1 Jan said that Inspector Donald Wright had recently retired and he had passed on his thanks to the CC for all their support. It was agreed that we send him a letter and card thanking him and wishing him all the best in his retirement. Action EA
9. Treasurer’s Report
9.1 Emily handed out the current balance sheet:-
HADDINGTON & DISTRICT COMMUNITY COUNCIL A/C as at 14th March 2006
Last month’s balance £1,075.22
Income Expenditure
Interest Jan £1.00 Jan Phone exp £28.00
Feb £0.80 Emily phone exp £28.00
Secretary’s fee (Anna) £40.00
Total £1,077.02 £96.00
New balance £1,077.02- £96.00 = £981.02
HADDINGTON COMMUNITY COUNCIL FESTIVAL A/C as at 14th March 2006
Last month’s balance £9,124.93
Income Expenditure
Interest Jan £14.12 Tax Jan £2.82
Feb £14.09 Tax Feb £2.81
Local priorities £2,500 Float Craft Fair £60.00
Handbook advert £60.00 Food for Craft Fair £22.45
Income from Craft Fair £331.00 Advert for Craft Fair £48.41
Float returned £60.00 3 Quaichs £119.85
Banners £212.00
Association Scottish CC’s £15.00
Total £12,104.14 £483.34
New balance £12,104.14 - £483.34 = £11,620.80
(The cheque for £15.00 for the Association of Scottish CC’s has not been cashed)
9.3 Quaichs: Emily confirmed that she has had them engraved.
10. Correspondence
Received:
10.1 Letter from ELC re Affordable Housing at Monkrigg Road – a feasibility study is being carried out to ascertain whether this site would be suitable.
10.2 Notices of ELC meetings
10.3 Letter re ‘Second Consultation on a Review of the Scottish Forestry Strategy’ – meeting being held in the Hub on 26th April.
10.4 Copy of Panel News from EL Tenants and Residents Panel
10.5 Letter of acceptance from Graeme (new CC member)
10.6 Letter from ‘The Local Channel’ re a ‘Free for life’ CC website
10.7 Notice of increases in Scottish Water charges – 1.99% increase which is the lowest in the UK
10.8 Jan had information from Portfolio Banners: we definitely need to get new bunting (which is £15 for 10 metres). Charles said that the Nungate Gala Committee were having a meeting tomorrow – Jan will get the details to him to take to the meeting. Action JW/CI
10.9 East Lothian Food & Drink Festival: As this was not very well attended last year Jan did not think it was worthwhile doing again this year.
Sent out:
10.10 Letters to the three people who applied for the CC vacancies – all were voted onto the CC
11. Planning - Norman handed out copies of his recent report.
11.1 Item 12.8 re Planning Advice Note: Norman said that there had been no deadline for replies but that he had drafted a letter of response. Some discussion was held around the issues of being more vigilant at going back to planning applications once we have made our comments/objections to find out the outcome. This was discussed briefly and further discussion was suggested for the Festival Meeting.
11.2 Lamp of Lothian car park: this to be discussed at the Festival Meeting.
12. Meeting with HADAS, RPS and CC re Letham development
12.1 A meeting was held with HADAS and developers (RPS) - Effie, Jan and John attended. The CC members spoke mainly about our views on the traffic situation. Jan had asked if RPS would attend a public meeting to discuss this further. They had agreed to this in principle but thought that people may be reticent to stand up and speak their views in public. No date has been set as yet but it was thought that beginning/mid June would be a good time. Irene to write to arrange (Norman will email their address to her) Action IP/NL
13. Tourism
13.1 Leaflets: Effie said that the pathways leaflets are progressing well. She has also been told that if they can expect at least 500 visitors then the grant can be released.
13.2 Doocot: The work here is progressing well although (as discussed earlier) it won’t be ready for this summer season. The Trinity Centre will be used in the meantime but Effie said that they were in need of more volunteers to man it. Jan said that she had been contacted by Linda Sneddon who would be willing to give some time on Tuesday/Wednesday afternoons. Jan said that it had been discussed previously and they had decided that if the doocot was not ready for the start of the season then they should stay in the Trinity Centre for the duration and not try to move into the doocot half way through the summer. Norman was surprised at this decision to not move this year – as ELC have been so helpful in getting this up and running. After some more discussion it was decided to further discuss this at a later date.
14. Festival Update
14.1 Jan reported that arrangements are ongoing. She also suggested that ELC could consider sponsoring something for the Festival next year.
15. AOCB
15.1 Christmas Lights: Jan has been in touch with a company (Blachere) to find out the possibility of hiring lights for next christmas. This would work out at about a third of the cost at present. They have been invited to come along to a meeting on 26th April.
15.2 Reminders: Presentation being held in Town House on Tuesday 21st March at 7.30pm and Reception in Brunton Hall on Thursday 23rd March at 7pm
16. Outstanding Matters Arising from previous minutes
14/03 Litter Bins
Athelstaneford (Lighting at hall)
Jackson’s Jewellers
Town House Lift
Doocot-finished work-Tourism
Local Chemists-administering methadone
Council Chamber-flickering light
Knox Court Parking
Burleigh’s Wa’s
Newton Port surgery car park
17. Date of next Meeting: Tuesday 11th April 2006 in Council Chambers, Town House at 7.00pm.
18. Date of next Festival Meeting: Tuesday 28th March 2006 in Town House at 7.00pm