DUNPENDER COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Chairman's report for the year ending 31st March 2021 presented to the Annual General Meeting on 2 September 2021

Postholders for the year were: J Priest Chairman; A Cosgrove Vice-chairman; J Swift Secretary and E Martin Treasurer.

Members: Colin McWhannell joined the Community Council, Alan Reid resigned; we are one member short for the Tyninghame & Whitekirk ward.

This year has been a very difficult one for Community Councils. Unable to meet, we finally began to hold meetings via Zoom in November but these meetings are a poor substitute for proper meetings. n

From April to the end of July when the national Covid lockdown was in force we ran an emergency response with the help of a number of volunteers for the community. This was put together at very short notice following expectations from ELC. Nobody had any experience or guidance for this and in the end the response was disproportionate to demand apart from a need for collections from the Pharmacy for a number of people. Most of our community made informal arrangements with neighbours to help with shopping and other needs, as we had expected.

We also helped to administer a number of crisis funds and Allison in particular took part in endless Zoom meetings.

I can safely say that in my time as Chairman this was the most difficult job we have ever done; it has severely challenged the relationship we had with ELC and raised questions about the role of Community Councils.

In spite of this, our members have, among other things:

• studied and responded to a number of consultations including East Linton station, ELC Land management plan, ELC Spaces for People, Newbyth Woods Management plan, SEPA proposals for Knowes Weir.
• discussed and in some cases objected to planning applications or breaches of permission including Karele riding charity, Markle Quarry, Monksmuir Park, Museum of Flight, Viridor, a house at Whitekirk
• rationalised our bank accounts into one and taken it online.
• funded, built and installed more new benches along our footpath network
• monitored and maintained the path network, in particular around Preston Mill
• written a visitor information leaflet
• supported all three village halls with grants
• renovated the Fountain
• obtained an Area Partnership grant for speed reducing measures in Tyninghame and opened discussions with ELC
• supported a new Climate action group, CAEL
• supported the Horticultural Society in keeping East Linton blooming
• reported broken streetlights, potholes etc to ELC.
• maintained the defibrillators and purchased new batteries as needed.

Members continued to represent the Dunpender community on various groups and at a number of online consultations and meetings this year including ELC Bus Forum, Community Rail Partnership, RELBUS, RAGES, CAPP, two Area Partnerships, Association of EL Community Councils, John Muir Country Park and Joint Laws Advisory Groups, Countryside Volunteers and the Local Access Forum.

We produced a bumper edition of Dunpender News to boost morale for all our community groups and have written a short report when possible for the East Linton & District Advertiser (many thanks for the free space we are given) as well as ensuring our news is on the website.

Thanks go once again to Alastair Seagroatt who looks after our website, www.eastlinton.uk.com, to Ms Hunter who takes the minutes for our meetings and to all members for their hard work throughout the year.

Judith Priest 29th March 2021