Royal Burgh of Haddington and District Community Council

Minutes of meeting of 13th May 2008 in Council Chambers

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1.  Sederunt

Jan Wilson (Chair), John Golightly (Vice Chair), Emily Armatage (Treasurer), Colvin Denholm, Bob Oliver,

Kathryn McDowall, Fiona-Frances Adam, Ruth Moncrieff, Janet Brent, Nico de Freitas, Charles Ingle, Margaret Ingle

 

In attendance

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

 

2. Apologies: Cllr Tom Trotter, Graeme MacGregor.  Jan gave a formal apology to Bob for omitting him from the Chairman’s Report

 

3. Major Items for AOCB

3.1 Security in town centre

 

4. Welcome to new community councillors

4.1 Jan welcomed the two new members, Charles Ingle and Margaret Ingle to the community council

 

5. Minutes of Tuesday 8th April

5.1 Item 7.3 Dobsons Well: Colvin asked about the sign, not Effie. 

5.2 Item 9.1: Emily did not have to transfer money as stated in the minutes.

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

 

6. Matters Arising

Q’s to Iain Gray –

6.1 Update on Land Reform Bill: Iain Gray, MSP, has spoken to the Scottish Exec and this is ongoing.

6.2 Athelstaneford: Irene had brought up the problem with sewage in the village.  Scottish Water are dealing with it and a new pipe will be laid.

6.3 Item 6.2 Fly tipping: Bob reported that nothing has been done about this as yet. Stuart Pryde is due to attend the next meeting  so this can be highlighted then.

6.4 Item 6.6 O/S matters: Jan has spoken to Lilian who will send a copy of the list to the appropriate department once she receives the list from Jan.                                                                                                                                                          Action JW

6.5 Item 7.4 Naming of roads:  Bob asked which Alderston  this refers to.  Ludovic will chase this.      Action LB-L

6.6 Item 7.7 Gates for High Street close’s: Jan read out a letter from a resident re the proposal for gates and the problems the residents are still having to deal with.  Charles has written several letters to the council on this matter and is concerned that it has taken so long to get to this point.  Ludovic said that it was never an easy or quick process to close off a public right of way.  Bob said that he was worried that closing off  the close’s could lead to a situation where kids being chased could be cornered with no means of escape.  Jan thought that this was a relevant point but that this could happen anywhere.

6.7 Item 7.8 Burley’s Wa’s:  Colvin has spoken to the Masonic Lodge – detail needed (Anna to speak to Colvin)

6.8 Item 10.12 CC training:  Jan said that this had started.  Nico has attended the one on Licencing.

6.9 Item 13.1 Handbook directory:  Details to be finalised and given to Jan.  Ruth volunteered to phone round re adverts.

                                                                                                                                                                                Action JW/RM

6.10 O/S matters 12/04 Bowling Green plaque: this has been brought up several times and we still have not managed to have the original name plaque reinstated.  Charles thought that it may be up at the Peppercraig site.  Ludovic will ask Sheena about it.                                                                                                                                                             Action LB-L

6.11 Item 15.1:  Emily said that she had only one nomination for the trophy.  She asked that an appeal be placed in the paper with a closing date of 18th May.

6.12 O/S matters 09/10: Bob asked if any progress had been made as regards having the fence removed between Haldane Avenue and Alderston Gardens.  Ludovic will look into it.                                                                     Action LB-L

 

7. Councillors Corner

7.1 Parking:  Colvin asked if an overspill car park could be considered at Whittinghame Drive. Ludovic will raise.

                                                                                                                                                                                Action LB-L

7.2 Recycle bins:  Fiona has been asked by David Barrie whether plastic recycle bins could be provided at the Aubigny Centre. 

7.3 Disabled parking bays/dropped kerbs: Fiona brought up this subject once again of people using the disabled bays in Lodge Street.  It was suggested that the reg. no of the car and the location be taken and passed to the police.  Jan said that she will take this to the next CAPP meeting.                                                                                                     Action JW

7.4 The Sands:  Emily pointed out again the problem with parking in the Sands, particularly near the corner, preventing access for the refuse lorry.  Could something be done to stop cars parking here.

7.5 Refuse uplift charges: Nico thanked the press for highlighting this problem regarding the cost of uplifting rubbish from the hotel.  He can’t understand why the charges are so much more for Haddington -  it has been cheaper for him to have a contractor from the Edinburgh area to uplift.  He is a great supporter of going local but in this case it was far too expensive.  Ludovic said that he thought that part of the problem was the land-fill penalties ELC have to pay – they do not make money from these uplifts but have to cover their costs.  He said he would take to Colin Carr for a more definitive explanation and bring to the next meeting.                                                                                                                 Action LB-L                                                                                                                     

7.6 Speeding cars:  Charles has been asked to bring up the problem of speeding cars, particularly in Queens Avenue.  It was suggested that the reg no of the offenders be taken and handed to police.

7.7 Street names:  Charles also brought up the matter that the close next to Dino’s chip shop does not actually have a name (all the other close’s in the town have a name with which they can be identified).  Ludovic will look into this.

                                                                                                                                                                                                Action LB-L

8.  Police Questions – no police were present at the meeting.  Jan said to pass any matters to her and she can take to the next CAPP meeting.

 

9. Planning applications

9.1 Bob passed out copies of his report.  He wanted to have some guidelines as to what matters he should be looking at, disapproving of etc.  Jan said that they could have a meeting with Norman at her house to discuss this.        Action JW/RO

9.2 Proposals for 11a Letham Mains and West Road (Overton):  Bob will look at these plans.                           Action RO

9.3 Letter from Helen Fraser:  Jan read out a letter from this resident at Gateside, a letter that was sent to Peter Collins putting forward their objections to the proposal by Tesco.

 

10. Correspondence

Received:

10.1 Notices of ELC meetings

10.2 ELC Design Standards for new housing – suggested designs.  Charles will look at this.                    Action CI

10.3 Consultation on Education – additional support learning: questionnaire with response form.  Ruth will look at this and report back to the Festival meeting.                                                                                                                                  Action RM

10.4 RAGES: £10 membership fee is now due.  It was agreed to pay this.                                                        Action EA

10.5 Jan had a notice from Linda Harkness at ELC stating that due to the impact of  single status and the revised terms of employment there may be difficulty in staffing over weekends therefore they will be unable to supply any floral decorations for the Festival. 

10.6 Jan has the invoice for the Festival Programme. She said that the Haddington Historical Leaflet has now been finished and paid for.

10.7 Jan said that the CC grant will come in after 1st June (£1,082) with a Local Priorities budget of £13,330.

10.8 Jan had email from Lilian re CC training meetings – next one 20th May.

10.9 Model National Constitution for Community Councils – response due 1st August.  Jan will try to get more copies from Lilian.                                                                                                                                                                                     Action JW

 

11. Treasurer’s Report

11.1 Emily handed out the current balance sheet:-

 

HADDINGTON & DISTRICT COMMUNITY COUNCIL A/C as at 13th May 2008

Last month’s Balance                  £1,109.98                             

Income                                                                                   Expenditure

Interest                                                  £0.66                       Jan’s Phone exp March                                  £28.00

                                                                                                Jan’s phone exp April                    £28.00

Emily’s phone exp                                 £28.00

Anna Secretary’s fee                                £50.00

Jan honorarium                                                £100.00

Emily honorarium                                £200.00

Total                                                       £1,110.64                                                                          £434.00                                                                                                                                                                                

New balance £1,110.64- £434.00 =                              £676.64

 

HADDINGTON COMMUNITY COUNCIL FESTIVAL A/C as at 13th   May 2008

Last month’s balance                  £17,841.41

Income                                                                                                   Expenditure

Interest                                                  £21.83                                     Tax                                                          £4.36

Handbook income                   £100.00                                   Library donation                                                £200.00

                                                                                                                Jan honorarium                                            £200.00  

                                                 J Kerr (fruit for Bob Mitchell)                £10.00

                                                                                                                Book tokens (Norman)                  £50.00

                                                                                                                Gibsons tokens (Irene)                       £50.00

                                                                                                               

Total Income                                         £17,963.24                            Total Expenditure                          £514.36

 

New balance £17,963.24 - £514.36  =  £17,421.88

 

Cheques written and not presented

 

Malt Kiln tokens (Effie)                     £50.00                     11072

David Motherwell                                £50.00                     11073

Girl Guide donation                                £150.00                   11074

Association Scottish C/C                          £15.00                     11075

EL Tourism Forum                     £25.00                     11076

                                                Total                £290.00

 

11.2 Fraser Spowage:  Emily will write a letter of thanks for the very generous donation of £500 towards the festival. 

Action EA

12. Tourism

12.1 Volunteers: A training session will be held at the Town House on 19th May 10-1pm. 

12.2 Rota:  Charles said that he can be free on a Saturday and Margaret said she was flexible for most days.  Jan will continue dealing with the rota and Nico will oversee other tourism business.

12.2 ‘I’ sign:  Nico said that it is appalling that we have still not got this sign.  He has taken this to the Tourism Forum.

 

13. Handbook

13.1 Jan still needs any updates, this to include any email addresses.  Ruth will deal with the adverts.

 

14. Festival minutes

14.1 Jan said that the fireman will not be erecting the bunting – this year the council will be doing it.

 

15. AOCB

15.1 Security in town: take to Festival meeting

15.2 Environment Fund: take to Festival meeting

 

16. Date of next Meeting:  Tuesday 10th June 2008 in Council Chambers, Town House at 7.00pm.

 

17.  Date of next Festival Meeting: Tuesday 20th May 2008 in Town House buffet room  at 7.00pm

 

18. Outstanding Matters Arising from previous minutes 

18.1 Jan  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

                Carlyle Cafe – uneven paving slabs

13/05     Overspill parking - Whittingham Drive

                Recycle bins –sports centre

                Disabled parking bays

                The Sands – parking

                Refuse charges

                Chip shop close – name?