Royal Burgh of Haddington and District Community Council

Minutes of meeting of 9h September 2008 in Council Chambers

 

1.  Sederunt

John Golightly (Vice Chair), Emily Armatage (Treasurer), Charles Ingle (Correspondence Sec), Colvin Denholm,

Kathryn McDowall, Fiona-Frances Adam, Janet Brent, Nico de Freitas, Margaret Ingle, Graeme MacGregor,

Ruth Moncrieff

 

In attendance

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

 

2. Apologies: Jan Wilson, Bob Oliver

 

3. Major Items for AOCB

3.1 Funding for footbridge at Riverside Drive

 

4. Anne Moffat, MP for East Lothian

4.1 John welcomed Anne to the meeting.

 

Anne said that as Westminster was currently in summer recess she was attending as many Community Council meetings as possible.  She thanked all the local community councillors for their hard work and dedication – they do some good work and she felt that sometimes this was not given enough recognition.  She said that her main responsibility in Westminster was the Select Committee for Business & Enterprise.  She also has a strong interest in Energy and feels that East Lothian has a lot to potential for efficient energy production.

 

i)         Wind Fuel Tax:  Charles said that the energy company’s make huge profits but the Government seem disinclined to pursue them for this proposed tax – what was Anne’s opinion on this?  Anne said she fully supported this wind fuel tax but felt that it was not necessarily the answer as this would do nothing to stop the company’s putting up their prices to cover the tax.  Anne was in favour of nuclear power – if we had new power stations we would be able to produce our own energy and not have to rely on external influences.  The Scottish Executive, at present, will not allow planning permission for any new nuclear power stations.  Anne said though that she will continue to pursue this through the Select Committee.

 

In her absence Jan had asked for some questions to be put to Anne

ii)       Extra money available for Community Councils:  Anne didn’t think that there was any money specifically put aside but that it really needs to be negotiated with our Local Council.  She said that our elected councillors are the first point of contact and we could also write to the Chief Executive.  We could also contact other local Comm Councils; make a united stand.  It was also pointed out that David Berry is in charge of Community Services and would be a good first point of contact.  Charles said we need to be clear about what we are looking for – be very specific and have in mind our own budgets.

iii)      Road repair schemes:  Are the government going to give more money for repairs etc?  Anne said that central government give money to the local governments – it is up to them how they allocate the money. 

iv)     Housing: What is the governments’ position on availability of affordable housing? Anne said that the government was in support of affordable housing and that private company’s cannot secure land unless they commit to build a given percentage of these houses.  Colvin pointed out that there was a 16 year waiting list for council houses – why don’t they just build more?  Anne said that the ‘Right to Buy’ scheme depleted council stocks – this scheme is going to stop and in the meantime councils are buying back houses at a loss.  Charles said that the ‘Right to Buy’ scheme had to be repealed before they build more houses or the same situation will occur.  Sheena pointed out that the other problem is the lack of land available.  If the council owns the land then they can build but only if there is land available. 

v)       Post Offices:  Graeme said that a lot of local post offices are now running at a loss (and are facing closure) but the reason for this was that the government has taken a lot of business away from them (TV licence, pensions etc).  Some of this was explained by the introduction of competition laws and as such the BBC awarded TV licence provision elsewhere.  Anne said that the government subsidises the post office £750 million per year and are committed to this until 2011, whereby it will then be up for negotiation.   Charles said that maybe we are losing sight of the human aspect of local PO closures – we want to be assured that they are not going to lose out.  Anne said that all the criteria is being looked at and appeals can be lodged where necessary. 

vi)     Education budget:  Emily said that all sorts of things were promised but none have materialised indeed it would seem that we have fewer teachers and police officers.  Sheena denied that the Education Budget had been cut.

 

5. Minutes of Tuesday 10th June

7.2 CCTV:  Charles made a correction in third sentence – should read ‘a’ chief constable and not ‘the’.

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

 

6. Matters Arising

6.1 Item 6.1 Davidson Terrace: Colvin said that the problem with the drainage has still now been cleared up. 

6.2 Item 6.3 Bus shelters, Athelstaneford: Emily said that they would like a shelter at the bottom of the park and not at the top.

(Bob asked for the following to be included in his absence)

6.3Item 8.1 Athelstaneford: Mansfield – this looks like a good development apart from the fact that it will be a series of cul-de-sacs making it difficult for the Council refuse wagons and other larger vehicles.  This may be postponed due to the current recession – many building projects are being put on hold elsewhere.  [Emily said that the layout has been changed as there are a lot of children in that area and the speed of the traffic has to be restricted].

6.4 Item 8.2 Jacksons shop: this is a well planned restoration – let us hope it is done properly; the last time this was done the external render failed quite quickly.

6.5 Item O/S matters 2007 09/10: Alderston Muir – the temporary fence has now been replaced by a large concrete circle and filled with earth.  Passage for pedestrians, cyclists and prams is now possible.  A few flowers in the soil would look better than the weeds which are now established. 

6.6 Item O/S matters 2008 12/02:  Bob reported this in February (fly tipping) and despite repeated requests there has been nothing done

 

7. Councillors Corner

7.1 Astroturf at Aubigny Centre:  Emily has been asked to find out the cost of hiring the Astroturf as a group of boys seem to have been charged quite a lot for its use.  She was advised to contact the Aubigny Centre direct.       

7.2 Station Road Park:  John asked if the flower beds could be reinstated.                                                             Action LB-L

7.3 Beechwood Rd to Hopetoun Dv: John also mentioned the path between these two roads – the slabs are broken and uneven and also could the slabs be turned the other way to make the path wider and more accessible for prams etc.

                                                                                                                                                                                                Action LB-L 

7.4 Scotland in Bloom:  Sheena pointed out that local groups run this event (North Berwick, Cockenzie etc) and wondered about a possible group in Haddington.  Perhaps the local Horticultural group could also be involved.

7.5 Bowling Green Plaque: the original plaque has still not been found.  Also, vandalism is evident on both the name plaque and on the doocot door.                                                                                                                                         Action LB-L

7.6 Brewery Park:  Fiona said that the Gas Board have left this area in a mess – roads are like patchwork and uneven, with metal grills lying around.                                                                                                                                  Action LB-L

7.7 Bermaline:  Kathryn asked who was responsible for dealing with over-hanging branches behind the Bermaline.

7.8 Over-hanging branches:  Knowsley Park and Station Road (between the Railway and Beechwood Road) – over-hanging branches are causing a bit of an obstruction.  Hedge at West Road also overhanging.  St Martin’s Close onto Bullet Loan – ivy over-growth causing pedestrians to walk on the road. Sheena said that these would be dealt with but not until October/November.

7.9 Whittinghame Drive: problems are being caused by cars parking on the grass during training nights.  Also, kids are being chased off the area at the goal posts on the south side to allow training.                                                           Action LB-L

7.10 Grass cutting:  the pavements are being left in a mess with grass cuttings.                                                   Action LB-L

7.11Abbots View:  Colvin pointed out that there are still broken slabs between nos 1-25.  Also the lights have been done but the new one seems darker.                                                                                                                                        Action LB-L

                                                                                                                               

8.  Police Questions  

8.1 Parking in Haldane Avenue:  Colvin said that there are cars parking in the cycle lane or actually on the footpaths along Haldane Ave.  PC Tait will check this out.                                                                                 Action PC Tait

8.2 Court Street:  Margaret said that she had been frightened by a car overtaking at the traffic island outside the bank.  PC Tait said that they did have problems with ‘boy racers’ but that a change in the regulations means that they are  now able to deal with them more effectively through ASBO’s.  He asked that anyone witnessing this sort of behaviour should take note of the car registration no. and contact the police. 

8.3 CCTV:  Charles asked if there were any results from his question posed recently about evidence to show the effectiveness of  the CCTV.  PC Tait said that it was a very difficult thing to measure but in his experience CCTV has been used as evidence to secure convictions.  Sheena said that she felt it did act as a deterrent and agreed that this was a difficult thing to measure.   Charles still maintained that it should be possible to show its effectiveness, or not, via information gathered and that if it was deemed ineffective then the money involved should be redeployed elsewhere.  Sheena said that she didn’t see any point in removing the system as this would involve costs and reiterated that she did feel it acted as a deterrent.  Charles said that he was constantly having problems in Ross’s Close and asked if the camera at the top of the close was actually working.  PC Tait said he would look into this.  It was hoped that security gates, once installed, would help to alleviate these problems.                                                                                                                    Action PC Tait

8.4 Speeding in Haldane Avenue:  PC Tait had a copy of the traffic survey carried out recently and indications were that there wasn’t a problem with speeding in this area.  John asked if a copy of the report for Hopetoun Drive was available.  PC Tait will find out.                                                                                                                                  Action PC Tait

 

 

 

 

 

9. Treasurer’s Report

9.1 Emily handed out the current balance sheet:-

 

HADDINGTON & DISTRICT COMMUNITY COUNCIL A/C as at 9th September 2008

Last month’s Balance                          £571.09                

Income                                                                                   Expenditure

Interest                  May                        £0.27                       Jan’s Phone exp                                   £28.00

                                June                        £0.63                       Emily’s phone exp                                £28.00

                                July                         £0.56                       Anna secretary’s fee                           £50.00

Auditors fee                                          £285.00

ELC Grant                                              £1,082.00

 

Total                                                       £1,654.55                                                                             £391.00                                                                                                                                                                                

New balance £1,654.55- £391.00 =                     £1,263.55

 

HADDINGTON COMMUNITY COUNCIL FESTIVAL A/C as at 9th September 2008

Up date                                                  £16,545.01

Income                                                                                                   Expenditure

Interest  June                                        £16.63                                     Jan computer inkjets                            £80.96

                July                                         £16.41                                     John Christmas lights checks            £71.58

                                                                                                                Jan website                                           £29.99

                                                Tax          June                                        £3.32

                                                                July                                         £3.28

 

Total Income                                         £16,578.05                              Total Expenditure                                 £189.13

 

New balance £16,578.05 - £189.13  =  £16,388.92

 

Knox Academy Support Group cheque £162.50 not cashed therefore

bank statement reads                                                                                          £16,551.42

 

9.2 Emily pointed out that the Festival Meeting must be held as a totally separate meeting from the main CC one and recorded as such. 

9.3 Annual Accounts:  these were presented to the meeting. 

Accounts were adopted by John and seconded by Ruth

 

10. Correspondence (See attached list)

10.1 RAGES AGM: Thursday 11th September 7.30pm at East Linton hall

 

11. Planning applications

11.1 Comments already made at 6. Matters arising

 

12. Tourism

12.1 Doocot:  the doocot will close on Friday 12th September.  VisitScotland will collect all the paperwork. 

 

13. Inter-town sports

 

14. Local priorities – Christmas lights

Carry forward to next meeting

 

15. Festival update and minutes

 Carry forward to next meeting

 

16. AOCB

16.1 Footbridge at Riverside Drive: Colvin has been informed by Owen that he can restore and paint the bridge for £200.  It was suggested we invite Owen to our meeting to discuss.  Colvin will arrange this.                                          Action CD

 

17. Date of next Meeting:  Tuesday 14th October 2008 in Council Chambers, Town House at 7.00pm.

 

18.  Date of next Festival Meeting: Tuesday 23rd September 2008 in Council Chambers, Town House at 7.00pm

 

 

 

 

19. Outstanding Matters Arising from previous minutes         

 

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

                Alderston Gardens: signage/trees

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

08/04     Riverside Drive – messy pavements

                Dobsons Well – signage

                Cross Lane – missing drain cover

                Carlyle Cafe – uneven paving slabs

13/05     Recycle bins –sports centre

                Disabled parking bays

                The Sands – parking

                Chip shop close – name?

10/05     Alleyway off High Street – being used as public convenience

                Athelstaneford – bus shelters

                Market Street  - pigeon droppings

                Clearing of river Tyne

                Traffic calming – Queens Avenue

09/09     Station Rd Park – reinstate flower beds

                Beechwood Rd – widen pathway

                Brewery Park – disrepair of roadway

                Bowling Green plaque/doocot – vandalism

                Overhanging branches –various locations

                Grass cuttings – not being cleared up

                Abbots View – broken slabs