ROYAL BURGH OF DUNBAR COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Minute of Meeting held on Monday 18th April 2012
At 7p.m. in The Council Chamber, Dunbar Town House
Present: S. Bunyan (Chair); W. Collin; H. Coutts; K. Croft; D. Edmunds; D. McLeod; K. Thomas (Secretary); G. Wilson (Vice-Chair); J. Wilson (Treasurer); M. Young; (Minutes)
Councillors in Attendance:- J. Bell; N. Hampshire; P. McLennan
Apologies:- C. Colquhoun, Community Warden,J. Wilson (Treasurer),W Collin for the first part of the meeting
S. Bunyan opened the meeting by welcoming everyone. He introduced Dee Davidson who gave a short overview of the Science Festival and projects the group hoped to take forward to next year.
.Minutes of previous meeting:- Other matters- RSPB meeting should have stated November 2010, not 2011 as recorded.
Police Report: No Officers available. A copy of the Police report was sent to councillors by, PS Scott Nicholson, Haddington Community sector Sergeant. who had introduced himself in the covering letter.
Operation Eucalyptus (Cocaine swabbing).
On the 30th March 2012, ELCAT officers revisited licensed premises in Dunbar in relation to Operation Eucalyptus (Cocaine swabbing). 6 licensed premises in Dunbar had previously failed the swab test on the 3rd March 2012. Four of these premises failed their second swab test on 30/4/12. Advice given to staff.
DE- suggested that publicans use blue lights or rough surfaced tiles in the toilet area, to deter drug use.
NH- Informed the meeting that all publicans had been advised to put notices in their premises warning against drug use.
As there was no police officers present at the meeting, SB- stated he would pass the members comments to police.
Financial Report: Balance £201.08.
Local priorities fund and service grant are expected to remain at same amount for the year 2012.
East Lothian Council Elections 2012- SB- Thanked the Councillors for their contribution during the period of the Council now coming to an end.
.Hustings- DCC, responding to a request will arrange a hustings for the local election[In the event it was to be in Belhaven Church Hall, on Thursday 26th April at 7.30pm. and the Rev Laurence Twaddle agreed to chair the meeting.]
J Bell- Jackie Bell had sent a letter to SB informing that she was not standing for re election to ELC. She indicated that she was willing to return to DCC as a community councillor in May 2012. Members agreed, that as Jackie, had been an active member of the Community Council for many years, before her election to ELC, she should return as a co opted member.
Matters arising from Minutes:
Heritage information boards – nothing to report.
Twinning- Lignieres College – Twinning; Lignieres College.visit date of arrival 9th May.
.Belhaven Hospital Meeting. Meeting on 27th March SB GW Councillors; next meeting 8th May.
Members were reminded of the options being discussed for taking the hospital forward. HC-stated that any options must include NHS beds.
A public meeting is being arranged for June 2012.
Local Priorities
The Refurbishment of the 25 pounder Howitzer. Progress is underway with 105 Regiment RA
Friends of Winterfield – £500.00 payment given to help with their improvement project.
Northern Light request had been circulated Their request for £750 agreed on condition the project goes ahead and the other funding is secured.
Dee Davison is to make a funding request for next years Science Fest – Application form to be supplied for details of request.
(e) Jo Moulin wants to make an application for funding for catering equipment for the Town house- Application form to be supplied for details of request.
( f) Traditional Music Festival £500 Letter received and form issued and the grant provisionally agreed.
(g) Forms also issued to East Beach group for the seaside award entry and to
C Colquhoun, for the boxing club project.
The council confirmed £1500 to Pipe Band [a letter had been received by KT]
Other Matters
1 Rages; The CC’s intention to join was confirmed , payment to be sent. Allison Cosgrove to be contacted.
2. The RSPB proposal for the North West Quarry – Document by Mike Fraser circulated. A lively discussion took place about the future use of the Quarry lake. RSPB will not support the Lake, if water sports are to be allowed, as their proposal is for a Nature Reserve.It was noted that the Community Council had supported this proposal which had been accepted as the preferred option for some time.
Steve Hanmer from Dunbar Sea Cadets, attended the meeting and informed members, that he wishes the lake to be used for water sports, as there were no decent sailing lakes for his group to use in the area. He stated that boats would not disturb the birds as they would not be there everyday and would not be motorised. Mr Hanmer would seek grants to fund his project, but did not yet have a business plan to demonstrate his proposal to DCC or La Farge.
NH- stated that the public should have been consulted over the best use of the lake. PMcL reminded members that La Farge are the land owners and it would be up to them to choose it’s final use.
KC, attends La Farge meetings for DCC and stated that La Farge have been open in their discussions for the use of the Lake. The sailing idea has only recently been put forward and needs a business plan, before La Farge would consider the idea.
SB- stated that if the RSPB walked away from the project another body would have to be found to manage the area.
HC- was concerned a change of use may need planning permission. NH informed that if car parking area was to change, it would have to go through planning.
HC- stated that the final use would have to be decided by the land owner La Farge. KT- suggested an public exhibition of the plans for the Lake would be helpful we should ask LaFarge. to arrange one.This was agreed.
New High Street Crossings- HC informed members that a sight impaired member of the public had difficulty using the new crossings as her guide dog got confused by the closeness of the traffic around the junction and would not cross.
Councillors agreed to monitor the problems during the settling in period.
Rail Bridge at Tree Scheme- WC- stated that Network Rail should be pressured to re open the blocked up tunnel as children were looking for a short cut to the schools from the new housing. A Path from Beveridge Row across the wheat field is evidence of a short cut being used. WC urged councillors to act before a child is killed trying to cross the railway track.A Bridge would be an alternative solution.
Harbour bridge- There has been a delay in ELC engineers repairing the bridge, before it is handed over to the Harbour Trust. The bridge has been out of use for some time and prevents access to the far side of the harbour and Battery. JB- stated the delays could be due to departmental changes. SB- agreed a letter should be sent to ELC, highlighting concerns that the bridge is out of use and urging ELC to give the matter urgent attention.
Jubilee Lunches – letter from Garth Morrison . Although no Lunches have been planned in Dunbar by DCC, members felt that the castle Beacon could be lit as part of the planned beacon chain for the Jubillee. Also Union Jack flags should be flown from the Town House and John Muir heritage Centre. WC-stated new flags would be required for the JM House and it was agreed to purchase three new flags for the occasion. The chairman ,a had circulated organisations and hoped for other information on proposed happenings.
Access Forum -Anne Pearson letter-members agreed that Anne should be the area representative for the area on the Access Forum.
Coastlife centre – PMcL- spoke about a possible new project for the East Beach area. An initial investment of £10,000. pounds would be needed for a prototype dome to be brought to Dunbar this summer. Members agreed to invite project leaders to give a presentation to the next meeting.
The Coastal Fund Meeting ; Will Collin having rejoined the meeting from the meeting which had been held downstairs to consider the Community Council led application to the Coastal fund reported that a joint bid from various groups in the community was being completed for presentation by 27th April.
Date of next meeting: The next meeting will take place on Monday 21 May 2012 at 7p.m. in the Town House. The meeting will be an AGM.
The meeting closed at 9.55p.m.
