Royal Burgh of Haddington and District Community Council

Minutes of meeting of 11th March 2008 in Council Chambers

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1.  Sederunt

Jan Wilson (Chair), John Golightly (Vice Chair), Emily Armatage (Treasurer), Irene Pow (Secretary) Colvin Denholm, David Motherwell, Bob Oliver, Ruth Moncrieff

 

In attendance

Cllr Sheena Richardson, Cllr Ludovic Broun-Lindsay, Neil Aitchison (Courier), Craig Finley (EL News), PC Stuart Gunn, Anna Faulkner (minute secretary)

 

2. Apologies: Cllr Tom Trotter, Kathryn McDowall, Janet Brent, Effie Renton, Fiona-Frances Adam, Norman Lawrie

 

3. Major Items for AOCB

3.1 April meeting:  Jan said that Ian Gray will be coming to the April meeting and suggested a short agenda so that we can spend a bit of time on other items.  Please send any items members wish to raise to Jan.

 

4. Minutes of Tuesday 12th February

Approval of the minutes was proposed by Colvin and seconded by John.

 

5. Matters Arising

5.1 Item 7.1 Christian Party poster: This has been removed.

5.2 Item 7.2 Monkmains Road: Ludovic has spoken to Peter Forsyth – Highways department are aware of the Health and Safety issues around this and will be dealing with it.

5.3 Item 7.3 Public toilets: the vents are being checked and they are considering installing heating to alleviate the problem with condensation.

5.4 Item 7.5 Recycling bins:  Ludovic confirmed that any plastic bottles can be put in the recycle bins.  He said that if the CC wanted more information on this a talk could be arranged and to speak to Lilian if we wanted this.

5.5 Item 7.6 Fly tipping: Ludovic has spoken to Stuart Pryde and Peter Forsyth.  Bob said that the current problem seems now to have disappeared under a pile of rubble.  Ludovic will pass this on.                                  Action LB-L

5.6 Item 7.9 Bridge at Riverside Drive: Tom reported via email that this is being looked at. 

5.7 Closure of road under Nungate Bridge:  this had been brought up by David Motherwell at a previous meeting.  Tom said that apparently there had been a survey of the area and there was not enough support for this to be considered.  David refuted this and said that there were over 100 signatures backing the closure and he would still like to see this done.

5.8 Item 8.1 Haldane Avenue (speeding):  Bob said that he had not written to ELC regarding this as yet.

5.9 Item 8.3 Chip shop:  still problems here regarding parking.

5.10 Item 12.11CC elections timetable:  Jan has sent out the timetable to members.

5.11 Item 13.2 Programme:  Jan still working on this.

 

6. Councillors Corner

6.1 Old A1:  Colvin said that about half way along the road there are the remains of a bench and wondered if this could be reinstated.                                                                                                                                                                             Action LB-L

6.2 Amisfield Park:  Colvin said that there is a three foot hole in the wall just past Amisfield Park.       Action LB-L

6.3 Seggarsdean Park and Terrace: It was reported that there is a problem with cars parking on pavement – causing pedestrians with buggies and wheelchair users to move onto the road.  PC Gunn said that they had looked at this area recently and had only found one car parked on the pavement.

6.4 Whittinghame Drive: Jan said that it had been reported that kids are congregating around the new graveyard and possibly even playing football here.                                                                      

6.5 Alderston Gardens: Jan had an email from a resident who has asked if a sign for Alderston Gardens can be erected on the old A1.  Sheena is already looking into this.  She also said that they are also still dealing with the problem with the trees at Lower Alderston Road                                                                                                                                    Action SR 

6.6 Street lighting:  Jan reported that there is still a problem with the lighting at the south end of Gifford Gate, the lanterns at Lady Kitty’s and the bollard lights on the bridge.  Sheena said that the lights on the bollards are fixed but then broken again almost immediately but will pass this on again.     She also said that the lights at Gifford Gate are part of the Cala Development but gave Jan a telephone number to call for problems with lighting.                                                 Action SR

 

7.  Police Questions

7.1 Haldane Avenue – Speeding:  Bob had asked at a previous meeting if speed sensors could be installed here to warn motorist to slow down.  PC Gunn has made arrangements to have a survey done in this area.                 

7.2Neighbourhood Watch signs:  Stuart has found out that ELC can produce the metal signs.

7.3 Crime in the town:  overall not too bad with only a few instances of thefts from cars.  Stuart reiterated the need to be vigilant in locking cars when unattended. 

 

 

 

8. Correspondence

Received:

8.1 Notices of ELC meetings

8.2 Copy of Newsletter from Assoc of Scottish Community Councils

8.3 Copy of ‘Speaking Out’ from East Lothian Involvement Group

8.4 Information Seminar on SEPA’s Thermal Treatment Criteria (1sr April), Perth) or we can request a written briefing – Irene will request this                                                                                                                                                          Action IP

8.5 Cittaslow:  Information on ‘slow’ food as opposed to ‘fast’ food – Jan has sent out copies for info via email to members

 

Sent out:

8.6 Gateside resident:  Irene has sent a letter to the resident who wrote about Tesco’s plans for this area.

8.7 Letter to Peter Collins from Norman re Tesco (07/01189/FUL: Variation of Condition 1 of planning permission 00/01143/FUL

 

9. Planning – Bob passed out copies of Norman’s report in his absence

9.1 John Gray Centre: Bob had copies of the plans available for perusal and it was suggested that this be further discussed at the Festival Meeting.

 

10. Tourism

10.1 Doocot:  Jan has ordered an ‘A’ board.  VisitScotland not happy with the signage and will take this up with ELC.

Jan said she would like to order a notice board and also a couple of metal cupboards for storage (1 for the doocot and one for the lock-up).                                                                                                                                                    Action JW

 

11. Treasurer’s Report

11.1 Emily handed out the current balance sheet:-

 

HADDINGTON & DISTRICT COMMUNITY COUNCIL A/C as at 11th March 2008

Last month’s Balance                  £1,320.04                             

Income                                                                                   Expenditure

Interest                                                  £1.05                       Jan’s Phone exp (Jan)                    £28.00

                                                                                                Jan’s Phone exp (Feb)                   £28.00

Emily’s phone exp                                 £28.00

Anna Secretary’s fee                                £50.00

Total                                                       £1,321.09                                                                          £134.00                                                                                                                                                                                

New balance £1,321.09- £134.00 =                              £1,187.09

 

 

HADDINGTON COMMUNITY COUNCIL FESTIVAL A/C as at 11th   March 2008

Last month’s balance                  £19,390.02

Income                                                                                                   Expenditure

Interest                                                  £22.67                                     Tax                                                          £4.53

Handbook income                   £130.00                                   Viridor                                                    £1,747.90

Shopkeepers Donation                                                                               ELC lotteries licence                    £20.00    

To Knox Academy School                  £170.00                                   Knox Academy School donation                £170.00

Income from Craft Fair                         £538.50                                   Food for Craft Fair                                £42.62

Float for Craft Fair returned                £100.00                                   Float for Craft Fair                                £100.00

                                                                                                                Advert for Craft Fair                          £31.44

                                                                                                                Effie Tourism photocopying                £10.00                    

                                                                                                               

Total Income                                         £20,351.19                            Total Expenditure                          £2,126.49

 

New balance £20,351.19 - £2,126.49  =  £18,224.70

 

 Knox Academy have so far not acknowledged the£170 nor cashed it

Colvin Denholm donation £200 not cashed

                                                                                                                £18,224.70

                                                                                                                  £170.00

                                                                Bank statement reads                £18,394.70

 

The library has now had their seat made and they have been paid the £200 that the CC agreed to give them in this financial year.  It should be in place at the entrance which looks very nice with all the flowers they have planted.

 

 

12.  AOCB

12.1 Festival:  It was agreed that we spend £20 on getting a banner to advertise the time of the Craft Fairs etc.

Action CD

 

13. Date of next Meeting:  Tuesday 8th April 2008 in Council Chambers, Town House at 7.00pm.

 

14.  Date of next Festival Meeting: Tuesday 25th March 2008 in Town House (Buffet Room) at 7.00pm

 

15. Outstanding Matters Arising from previous minutes  

15.1 Ludovic suggested we 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